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What is Bull Call Spread?

1690 reads · Last updated: December 5, 2024

A bull call spread is an options trading strategy designed to benefit from a stock's limited increase in price. The strategy uses two call options to create a range consisting of a lower strike price and an upper strike price. The bullish call spread helps to limit losses of owning stock, but it also caps the gains.

Definition

A bull call spread is an options trading strategy designed to profit from a limited rise in a stock's price. This strategy involves buying a call option with a lower strike price and selling a call option with a higher strike price, creating a spread. It helps investors limit losses in a bullish market while also capping potential gains.

Origin

The bull call spread strategy originated with the development of the options market, particularly after the establishment of options exchanges in the 1970s. Investors began exploring various options combination strategies to optimize returns and manage risk. As the options market matured, this strategy became widely used in bullish market conditions.

Categories and Features

The bull call spread primarily includes two types: vertical spreads and horizontal spreads. Vertical spreads involve options with the same expiration date but different strike prices, while horizontal spreads involve options with the same strike price but different expiration dates. Vertical spreads are more commonly used in bull call spread strategies as they directly capitalize on expected price increases. The main features are limited risk and limited reward, making it suitable for investors with a moderately bullish market outlook.

Case Studies

Case Study 1: Suppose an investor believes that Apple's (AAPL) stock price will slightly increase over the next month. The investor can buy a call option with a strike price of $150 and sell a call option with a strike price of $160. This way, the maximum profit is $10 (160-150) minus the cost of the options, while the maximum loss is the cost of the options.

Case Study 2: In 2020, Tesla (TSLA) experienced significant stock price fluctuations. Some investors used the bull call spread strategy by buying call options with lower strike prices and selling call options with higher strike prices, successfully profiting from the price increase while controlling risk.

Common Issues

Common issues investors face when using a bull call spread include losses due to incorrect market trend predictions and failing to adequately consider the impact of option costs on returns. Investors should ensure they have a reasonable bullish outlook on the market and carefully calculate option costs to assess the strategy's potential profitability.

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