SteadyOptions is an options trading forum where you can find solutions from top options traders. Join Us!

We’ve all been there… researching options strategies and unable to find the answers we’re looking for. SteadyOptions has your solution.

Debit Spreads Vs. Credit Spreads


 

There is a lot of confusion and misconception about debit and credit spreads. One of the most common misconceptions:

"One of the many drawbacks of a credit spread is that it will tie up so much capital."

Another misconseption:

“Selling credit spreads is like picking up pennies in front of a steam roller.”

 

Lets address those misconceptions.

 

The simple truth is that credit and debit spreads require exactly the same capital. You just have to compare apples to apples. Lets look at July AAPL options as an example.

Trade #1:

  • Buy AAPL July 2012 600 call
  • Sell AAPL July 2012 590 call

 

Trade #2:

  • Buy AAPL July 2012 600 put
  • Sell AAPL July 2012 590 put

 

Both trades are bearish - the maximum gain is realized if the stock is below $590 by July expiration. If the stock stays above $600, both trades will experience the maximum loss.

 

In the first trade, you get a $788 credit. The margin requirement is $212 which is the difference between the strikes less the credit received. If the stock is below $590, both options will be worthless and you keep the whole credit. The maximum gain is 271% (788/212).

 

In the second trade, you pay a $214 debit. The maximum gain is realized when the stock is below $590, in which case the spread will be worth $1,000. The maximum gain is 267% (786/214).

 

The maximum gain of the first trade is slightly higher than the first trade, but the difference is very small. The capital requirements and P/L profiles of both trades are very similar, almost identical.

 

The bottom line: what determines the P/L graph of the spread is not the credit or debit, it’s the strikes you are using. The same trade can be done for credit or debit, using calls or put. As long as the same strikes are used for both trades, the results will be very similar, almost identical.

 

Want to learn more about options?

 

Join SteadyOptions

What Is SteadyOptions?

12 Years CAGR of 115.5%

Full Trading Plan

Complete Portfolio Approach

Real-time trade sharing: entry, exit, and adjustments

Diversified Options Strategies

Exclusive Community Forum

Steady And Consistent Gains

High Quality Education

Risk Management, Portfolio Size

Performance based on real fills

Subscribe to SteadyOptions now and experience the full power of options trading!
Subscribe

Non-directional Options Strategies

10-15 trade Ideas Per Month

Targets 5-7% Monthly Net Return

Visit our Education Center

Recent Articles

Articles

  • When Investors Lose Their Nerve

    It was a rough end to the week for markets, with a sharp sell-off on Friday reminding investors just how quickly sentiment can turn. For anyone who sold in late summer anticipating a correction and then bought back in at the start of October, that one-day drop might have felt like confirmation that they can’t win.

    By Kim,

    • 0 comments
    • 561 views
  • Uncovering Common Cryptocurrency Trading Mistakes For Beginners

    Are you tempted by the shining allure of crypto trading? You aren’t alone. Decentralized cryptocurrencies hold perhaps the most tempting investment pull of a generation, especially amongst young or beginner investors. After all, by painting a different way to buy and sell, cryptocurrency offers something new that we’re all keen to get in on. 

    By Kim,

    • 0 comments
    • 7096 views
  • Buy Call, Sell Put Strategy Explained | SteadyOptions

    The Sell Put And Buy Call Strategy is an example of a synthetic stock options strategy: using call and puts options to mimic the performance of a position, usually involving the purchase of a stock. We saw this when looking at the synthetic covered call strategy elsewhere.

    By Chris Young,

    • 0 comments
    • 68497 views
  • Long Straddle Options Strategy | Maximize Profits with Big Moves

    Straddle Options Definition
    An options straddle strategy is buying (or selling) both a put and call option with the same strike price and expiration date for the same underlying asset, and paying both the put and call premiums.

    By Pat Crawley,

    • 0 comments
    • 68948 views
  • Gamma Scalping Options Trading Strategy

    Gamma scalping is a sophisticated options trading strategy primarily employed by institutions and hedge funds for managing portfolio risk and large positions in equities and futures. As a complex technique, it is particularly suitable for experienced traders seeking to capitalize on market movements, whether up or down, as they occur in real-time.

    By Chris Young,

    • 0 comments
    • 31415 views
  • Long Gamma vs Short Gamma: Options Strategy Explained

    Gamma is one of the primary Options Greeks, which measure an option's sensitivity to specific factors that could affect an option price. Despite traders hyping up several different Greeks and second-order Greeks like "Vanna" and "charm," there are only four primary Greeks that you need to be familiar with to understand options trading.

     

    By Pat Crawley,

    • 0 comments
    • 51358 views
  • Predicting Probabilities in Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Advanced Methods

    In options trading, the focus should not be on predicting the exact closing price of a ticker on a given date - a near-impossible task given the pseudo-random nature of markets. Instead, we aim to estimate probabilities: the likelihood of a ticker being above a specific value at a certain point in time. This perspective turns trading into a probabilistic exercise, leveraging historical data to make informed decisions.

    By Romuald,

    • 1 comment
    • 17747 views
  • SteadyOptions 2024 - Year in Review

    2024 marks our 13th year as a public trading service. We closed 136 winners out of 187 trades (72.7% winning ratio). Our model portfolio produced 116.7% compounded gain on the whole account based on 10% allocation per trade. We had only one losing month (of 0.6% loss) in 2024. 

    By Kim,

    • 0 comments
    • 6720 views
  • Wheel Strategy Options: Master Wheel Trading Explained

    The “wheel” trade is variously described as a beginner’s strategy, a combination to exploit features of both calls and puts, and as “perfect” solution to the well-known risks of shorting calls, even when covered. The options wheel strategy is an income-generating options trading strategy that both beginners and experienced traders can leverage for profit.

    By Pat Crawley,

    • 0 comments
    • 77657 views
  • Why Dollar Delta Will Change Your Trading

    Delta is one of the four main option Greeks, and any serious trader needs to have a thorough understanding of this greek if they hope to have any chance of success in the trading options. If you’re a beginner, you can visit my blog to learn more about understanding option delta

    By GavinMcMaster,

    • 0 comments
    • 36979 views

  Report Article


We want to hear from you!


There are no comments to display.



Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

Options Trading Blogs