Long Put Ladder Strategy

The Long Put Ladder Strategy is a trade where you have a mildly bearish view on a stock. Read to know how to trade it well.

Recently I wrote an article on Long Call Ladder, today I will discuss the Long Put Ladder.

The Long Put Ladder is exactly opposite of the Long Call Ladder. Therefore the view of the trader should also be opposite.

In the Long Call Ladder the trader was a bit bullish, in the Long Put Ladder the trader is a bit bearish. In both trades the trades has a bearish view on volatility.

Both strategies are limited reward but unlimited loss strategies.

Why is the trader also bearish on volatility? We will know shortly.

How to Trade the Long Put Ladder Strategy?

If you are bearish on a stock or Nifty you can:

1. Buy 1 ITM (In The Money) Put Option
2. Sell 1 ATM (At The Money) Put Option
3. Sell 1 OTM (Out of The Money) Put Option

Risk is Unlimited & Reward is Limited.

Lets take real prices and discuss one trade.

Date: 11-December-2014
Nifty closing spot price: 8293.00. Option prices are also closing prices.
India VIX: 12.77

Lets trade 100 shares (4 lots) each to keep math’s simple:

1. Buy 24-Dec-14 PE 8,400.00: 98.60
2. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,300.00: 52.30
3. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,200.00: 24.70

Debit: 98.60 * 100 = -9860
Credit: (52.3*100) + (24.70*100) = +7700

So the trader pays money to trade this: 7700-9860 = -2160.

Note: Ideally the ladder trades are played in a situation when the trader gets a credit to trade this strategy. It is because, if his view is wrong and all the options expire worthless, he still gets to keep some money. Go back to the long ladder strategy and see that there the trader was paid a credit to trade the strategy. Though less it makes sense to trade this strategy only when you are getting a credit. However if your view is very strong, you can trade even with a debit.

If you look at the trade closely it is actually a put debit spread with one extra uncovered sold put option. This one extra uncovered put is sold to reduce the cost of buying the ITM put. Usually in the money options are very costly – so the traders look for ways to reduce the cost of buying an option. This is one of the ways.

One more point. It gives a sense of protection too. Because the trader is not selling an option totally unhedged. There are two sold options hedged by 1 bought in the money option. This in the money option will have delta more than any of the sold options. Unfortunately it is still not enough delta to save the trader if an unexpected fall comes through very fast.

If that looks complicated please do not worry. In simple language if Nifty falls the trader is protected to some extent till Nifty reaches 8200 – this is where his worries will begin. Any fall further will be damaging to the trader. Here is where he should take a stop loss. He will still suffer a loss if the expiry is not near, but the loss will be small. Fall after 8200 will escalate the losses fast because 8200 will become in the money.

Now after this discussion lets see his profit and loss on the expiry day.

Case 1) Expiry at the 8400:

All options expire worthless. The trader loses the initial investment of 2160. Anything above the result is same.

Case 2) Expiry at the 8300:

1. Buy 24-Dec-14 PE 8,400.00: (100*100) – 9860 = +140 (Value of 8400 will be 100)
2. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,300.00: 52.30 – expires worthless = +5230
3. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,200.00: 24.70 – expires worthless = +2470

Total profit: 140+5230+2470 = 7840

ROI: For selling 1 lot of 25 shares approx Rs. 13,000 is blocked.
200 shares were sold. 200/25 = 8 * 13000 = Rs. 104,000
For buying 8400 put slightly less money will be blocked as the trader has some sold options too. Assuming 6000 blocked.

104,000 + 6000 = 110,000 blocked for this trade.

(7840 / 110000) * 100 = 7.12% returns. Only 14 days are left for December expiry. So the trader makes a return of 7.12% in 14 days. This is an amazing return. Unfortunately the direction needs to be predicted. If we all could predict the direction we all can be millionaires in no time. 🙂

Case 3) Expiry at the 8200:

1. Buy 24-Dec-14 PE 8,400.00: (200*100) – 9860 = +10140 (Value of 8400 will be 200)
2. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,300.00: 5230 – (100*100) = -4770 (Value of 8300 will be 100)
3. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,200.00: 24.70 – expires worthless = +2470

Total profit: 10140-4770+2470 = 7840

As you can see the results are same as expiry at 8300. But drop from here onwards will be costly for the trader. Let’s see.

Case 4) Expiry at the 8100:

1. Buy 24-Dec-14 PE 8,400.00: (300*100) – 9860 = +20140 (Value of 8400 will be 300)
2. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,300.00: 5230 – (200*100) = -14770 (Value of 8300 will be 200)
3. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,200.00: 2470 – (100*100) = -7530 (Value of 8200 will be 100)

Total loss: 20140-14770-7530 = -2160 (Note that the loss is same as all options expiring worthless i.e. Nifty expiring at or above 8400)

Case 5) Expiry at the 8000:

1. Buy 24-Dec-14 PE 8,400.00: (400*100) – 9860 = +30140 (Value of 8400 will be 400)
2. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,300.00: 5230 – (300*100) = -24770 (Value of 8300 will be 300)
3. Sell 24-Dec-14 PE 8,200.00: 2470 – (200*100) = -17530 (Value of 8200 will be 200)

Total loss: 30140-24770-17530 = -12160 (Note that the loss is Rs. 10,000 more than expiry at 8100. Similarly you can guess the loss if Nifty falls further).

Now an important note:

A good trader NEVER wait tills expiry especially in the trades where he can face unlimited losses. He will surly take a stop loss or do an adjustment to the trade. He knows that sitting on hope is not good way to trade. Therefore I had written that he expects the volatility to decrease.

He has sold 2 options and bought one. So if the volatility decreases, he will profit fast from the sold options to bring down the cash paid to buy the ITM option. This happens especially if Nifty moves up a little or consolidating and volatility drops. In that case he may exit the OTM sold option if he thinks there is nothing much left in that option.

He may choose to exit the ATM sold option too if there is a huge drop in volatility and he is making a good profit on that. If this happens the trader will reduce the cost of buying the ITM option drastically.

Essentially now he can wait for the unlimited profits that may come from a huge fall in Nifty because he has now no more short options left.

This is called smart trading that you must try to accomplish as a trader if the goal is to become a good trader.

Of course if there is a reasonable profit in the whole trade after sometime he will exit from all the three options.

But you should not trade this with the above in mind. Every trade may not result in the same way. It is experience and education that helps determine what needs to be done with the bought and the sold options. Sometimes even after taking the profits from the sold option a trader may have made more had he not bought them earlier in profits.

Some people may not agree to this as they may say its timing of the market. No its not. Once the volatility drops or Nifty inches higher which brings profits to the sold option – its all nothing but simple math’s. Now you just need to calculate the profits from the sold option to see what is the max loss on the trade. If you are comfortable with that max loss now left for the trade, you can take the profits out from the sold options. Since the loss now will be limited.

If Nifty falls, great you make profits from ALL options, else you may have to be satisfied with the loss that you were ready to take anyway. Note that this loss may be more than the initial credit made for the trade, but still much less than had you bought the ITM option unhedged.

Have you ever traded a ladder? If yes it will be great to hear from you. Please do drop a line or two in the comments section.

Thank You.

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT: Any act of copying, reproducing or distributing any content in the site or newsletters, whether wholly or in part, for any purpose without my permission is strictly prohibited and shall be deemed to be copyright infringement.

INCOME DISCLAIMER: Any references in this site of income made by the traders are given to me by them either through Email or WhatsApp as a Thank You message. However, every trade depends on the trader and his level of risk-taking capability, knowledge and experience. Moreover, stock market investments and trading are subject to market risks. Therefore there is no guarantee that everyone will achieve the same or similar results. My aim is to make you a better & disciplined trader with the stock trading and investing education and strategies you get from this website.

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT an Investment Adviser (IA). I do not give tips or advisory services by SMS, Email, WhatsApp or any other forms of social media. I strictly adhere to the laws of my country. I only offer education for free on finance, risk management & investments in stock markets through the articles on this website. You must consult an authorized Investment Adviser (IA) or do thorough research before investing in any stock or derivative using any strategy given on this website. I am not responsible for any investment decision you take after reading an article on this website. Click here to read the disclaimer in full.

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Refund Policy | About Me | Conservative Option Course | 200+ Testimonials - What Traders Say About This Course | Contact Me

My student gets the Winner's Certificate of Zerodha 60-day Challenge - Click here and Open Stock Buy and Sell Free Account with Them Today!!!