MarketXLS Blog

How to measure the risk and reward of a stock option trade: premium, breakeven, maximum loss, and Greeks, using option calculators in Excel.

A long strangle buys an out-of-the-money call and put with the same expiry. It profits from a large move either way; the maximum loss is the premium paid.

A long call condor uses four calls at four strikes to profit if a stock stays in a range. Structure, max profit and loss, and Excel templates.

A covered put combines a short stock position with a short put. Maximum profit, the unlimited upside risk, when traders use it, and how it differs from a collar.

O’Shaughnessy’s investing strategy combines value, growth and momentum filters in a quantitative stock screen. How it works and how to run it in Excel.

A call debit spread buys a lower-strike call and sells a higher-strike call. Max loss is the debit, max profit is the strike width minus the debit, breakeven is lower strike plus debit.

A call credit spread sells a lower-strike call and buys a higher-strike call for a net credit. Max gain is the credit, max loss is width minus credit, and it profits below the short strike.

A calendar spread sells a near-term option and buys a longer-dated one at the same strike. Max loss is the net debit; it profits most if the stock stays near the strike.

A call option calculator prices a call from stock price, strike, time, volatility, and rates, and shows breakeven and profit at expiration before you buy.

A vertical spread buys one option and sells another of the same type and expiration at a different strike. The four types, when each fits, and how the risk is capped.

A bull put spread sells a higher-strike put and buys a lower-strike put. Max profit is the net credit; max loss is the strike width minus the credit.

A strangle combines an out-of-the-money call and put. Long vs short strangle payoff, breakevens, maximum risk, and the role of implied volatility.

An options profit calculator shows the profit or loss of an options trade across stock prices and dates. What to look for and how the MarketXLS calculator works.

A covered call means selling a call against 100 shares you own. Higher volatility raises the premium you collect, but it caps your upside and only partly offsets losses.

MarketXLS Version 9.3.4.7 introduces 18 new Implied Volatility functions, a Spreadsheet Builder, Top Options functions, and 100+ pre-built screeners.

IV rank compares current implied volatility to its high-low range; IV percentile shows the share of past days with lower IV. Get both in Excel with MarketXLS.