Synthetic Call Option Strategy: What it is, When to Use (2024)

What is a Synthetic Call?

A synthetic call is an options strategy that uses stock shares and put option to simulate the performance of a call option. This gives the investor a theoretically unlimited growth potential with a specific limit to the amount risked.

Key Takeaways

  • A synthetic call is an option strategy to create unlimited potential for gain with limited risk of loss.
  • This investing strategy uses stock shares and put options.
  • This strategy is so called because it does not involve using any call options.
  • The strategy is also known as synthetic long call, married put or protective put.

How a Synthetic Call Works

A synthetic call, also referred to as a synthetic long call, begins with an investor buying an holding shares. The investor also purchases an at-the-money put option on the same stock to protect against depreciation in the stock's price. Most investors think this strategy can be considered similar to an insurance policy against the stock dropping precipitously during the duration that they hold the shares.

A synthetic call is also known as a married put or protective put. The synthetic call is a bullish strategy used when the investor is concerned about potential near-term uncertainties in the stock. By owning the stock with a protective put option, the investor still receives the benefits of stock ownership, such as receiving dividends and holding the right to vote.In contrast, just owning a call option, while equally as bullish as owning the stock, does not bestow the same benefits of stock ownership.

Synthetic Call Option Strategy: What it is, When to Use (1)

Both a synthetic call and a long call have the same unlimited profit potential since there is no ceiling on the price appreciation of the underlying stock. However, profit is always lower than it would be by just owning the stock. An investor's profit decreases by the cost or premium of the put option purchased. Therefore, one reaches breakeven for the strategy when the underlying stock rises by the amount of the options premium paid. Anything above that amount is profit.

The benefit is from a floor which is now under the stock. The floorlimits any downside risk to the difference between the price of the underlying stock at the time of the purchase of the synthetic call and the strike price. Put another way, at the time of the purchase of the option, if the underlying stock traded precisely at the strike price, the loss for the strategy is capped at exactly the price paid for the option.

When to Use a Synthetic Call

Rather than a profit-making strategy, a synthetic call is a capital-preserving strategy. Indeed, the cost of the put portion of the approach becomes a built-in cost. The option's cost reduces the profitability of the approach, assuming the underlying stock moves higher, the desired direction. Therefore, investors should use a synthetic call as an insurance policy against near-term uncertainty in an otherwise bullish stock, or as protection against an unforeseen price breakdown.

Newer investors may benefit from knowing that their losses in the stock market are limited. Thissafety net can give them confidence as they learn more about different investing strategies. Of course, any protection comes at a cost, which includes the price of the option, commissions, and possibly other fees.

Synthetic Call Option Strategy: What it is, When to Use (2024)

FAQs

Synthetic Call Option Strategy: What it is, When to Use? ›

The synthetic call is a bullish strategy used when the investor is concerned about potential near-term uncertainties in the stock. By owning the stock with a protective put option, the investor still receives the benefits of stock ownership, such as receiving dividends and holding the right to vote.

What is the purpose of a synthetic option? ›

Key Takeaways

A synthetic option is a way to recreate the payoff and risk profile of a particular option using combinations of the underlying instrument and different options. A synthetic call is created by a long position in the underlying combined with a long position in an at-the-money put option.

How do you decide which option strategy to use? ›

Finding the Right Option
  1. Formulate your investment objective.
  2. Determine your risk-reward payoff.
  3. Check the volatility.
  4. Identify events.
  5. Devise a strategy.
  6. Establish option parameters.

What are the advantages of synthetic options? ›

What Are the Benefits of Synthetic Options?
  • These options act as a cushion against an unlimited risk of cash or futures positions. ...
  • It mimics the unlimited profit potential and the loss potential of regular options without the restrictions of a particular strike price.
Apr 3, 2023

What is an example of a synthetic call option? ›

Synthetic Call Example

A synthetic call strategy might be used in this situation by purchasing TCS stock at the current market price. You purchase a Put option with a strike price of Rs 3300 at a premium of Rs 150 to hedge against a decline in TCS's price.

How do you trade synthetic options? ›

To create a synthetic long position using options, the most direct way is to buy a call option and sell a put option on the same strike for the same expiration. This is effectively the same risk exposure as buying shares of the stock. If the stock price goes up, it will return a positive payout.

What are the benefits of synthetic futures? ›

Synthetic futures offer flexibility, cost efficiency, and customization, allowing investors to tailor their positions based on their risk tolerance and market outlook.

What is the most successful option strategy? ›

The Call Ratio Backspread consists of two parts: selling one or more at-the-money or out-of-the-money calls and purchasing two or three calls that are longer in the money than the call that was sold. This strategy is also considered the best option selling strategy.

What is safest option strategy? ›

Two of the safest options strategies are selling covered calls and selling cash-covered puts.

What is the riskiest option strategy? ›

What Is the Riskiest Option Strategy? Selling call options on a stock that is not owned is the riskiest option strategy. This is also known as writing a naked call and selling an uncovered call. If the price of the stock goes above the strike price then the risk is that someone will call the option.

What is the difference between a synthetic call and a call? ›

A Synthetic Call option strategy is when a trader is Bullish on long term holdings but is also concerned with the associated downside risk. When you're expecting a rise in the price of the underlying and increase in volatility. A long call strategy involves buying a call option only.

What are the different types of synthetic options? ›

There are two types of synthetic options: synthetic call options and synthetic put options. Both of these require a cash or futures position in combination with an option. The cash or futures position makes the primary position whereas the option makes the shielding or protective position.

What is synthetic strategy? ›

Synthetic strategies are generally those that attempt to mimic other stock, futures, or options strategies and use other securities to create the new strategy.

How does a synthetic call work? ›

A synthetic call is an options strategy that uses stock shares and put option to simulate the performance of a call option. This gives the investor a theoretically unlimited growth potential with a specific limit to the amount risked.

What is the difference between synthetic and derivatives? ›

A synthetic asset is a token that is a digital representation of a derivative. Derivatives are financial contracts that allow traders to customize their exposure to an underlying asset, like Gold, for example, without having to pay the entire value of an asset.

How do you make a synthetic short with options? ›

To create a short synthetic stock position, you simply buy an ATM put option and sell an ATM call option at the same strike price. This creates a bearish position with much less capital than shorting a stock.

What does synthetic mean for Pharma? ›

: of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis. especially : produced artificially. synthetic drugs.

What are the advantages of synthetic indices? ›

This can make trading more efficient and cost-effective, as traders do not have to pay multiple commissions or deal with the logistics of buying and selling multiple assets. Another advantage of synthetic indices is that they are not affected by external factors that can impact the price of the underlying assets.

What is the main purpose of options? ›

An option is a contract giving the buyer the right—but not the obligation—to buy (in the case of a call) or sell (in the case of a put) the underlying asset at a specific price on or before a certain date. People use options for income, to speculate, and to hedge risk.

What is meant by synthetic in derivatives? ›

Synthetic Derivatives means artificial Derivatives. Before understanding the term Synthetic Derivatives, we should understand that Call, Put and Futures are completely interlinked with each other. We can mix any two products and can create third one. For Eg. we can make Synthetic Call by joining one Future and one Put.

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