The P/L Chart | Robinhood (2024)

The P/L Chart

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What is a Profit & Loss chart?

The P/L (Profit & Loss) chart helps you visualize an option strategy’s theoretical profits or losses at expiration. This is a great way to gain some insight into any particular options strategy before you enter into a position.

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How does it work?

How does it work?

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (1)

The vertical Y-axis represents the theoretical profit (+) and loss (-) range. Anything above zero represents theoretical profit while the area below represents theoretical loss. Both values assume the option is held until expiration.

The horizontal X-axis represents the stock price at expiration. When it comes to a calendar spread, which contains both long and short options at identical strike prices across two different expiration dates, the expiration of the front month option is the assumed expiration date.

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How can it help me make informed decisions for my options trading?

How can it help me make informed decisions for my options trading?

The chart can help you gauge the theoretical risk and reward of any given options strategy. This is one of the most important keys to choosing a strategy because you’ll get an idea of how much money you can potentially make or lose. This assumes all options are held until expiration and not closed, exercised, or assigned before then.

Keeping track of your breakeven is another important factor. Assuming you hold the position to expiration, this is the price the underlying stock must be above or below in order to potentially make money at expiration. Helpfully, this includes any premium paid or collected when the position was established.

Example: Let’s revisit the above MEOW 237 call

The MEOW 237 call has a premium of $2.00. The theoretical max profit would be unlimited because there’s no upper limit on how much the stock can potentially gain. You also know that you need the price to hit $239 to break even at expiration. The breakeven price for a long call is the strike price (237) plus the premium paid ($2). The theoretical max you can lose (max loss) is going to be $200, which is the premium paid ($2 x the contract multiplier of 100).

Keep in mind, this graph is only showing potential profit and loss at expiration. Actual gains may vary prior to expiration. For more helpful options education, be sure to check out the options trading essentials page.

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What are the different P/L charts?

What are the different P/L charts?

The P/L chart is interactive and as you select different contract strategies, it will adjust accordingly. At Robinhood we categorize them into Level 2 and Level 3 strategies. Here are a few of the most common strategies you can examine using the P/L chart.

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Level 2 options strategies

Level 2 options strategies

Long Call

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (2)

SETUP: Buy a call.

For a deeper analysis of this strategy, check out our detailed primer on trading calls and puts.

Long Put

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (3)

SETUP: Buy a put.

For a deeper analysis of this strategy, check out our detailed primer on trading calls and puts.

Cash Secured Put

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (4)

SETUP: Sell a put short (you must have the money in your brokerage account equivalent to buy 100 shares at the strike price of the put, aka “cash-secured”)

For a deeper analysis of this strategy, check out our detailed primer on trading calls and puts.

Covered Call

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (5)

SETUP: Long 100 shares of stock + short higher strike call (usually with a short-term expiration; ~20-45 days to expiration)

For a deeper analysis of these strategies, check out our detailed primer on trading calls and puts.

Straddle

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (6)

SETUP: Long call + long put at the same strike price, meaning you have the right to buy and sell shares at the same strike price.

Strangle

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SETUP: Long call + put options, but the call option has a higher strike price than the put option.

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Level 3 options strategies

Level 3 options strategies

Call Debit Spread

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (8)

SETUP: Long call + short higher strike call in the same expiration

For a deeper analysis of this strategy, check out our detailed primer on trading spreads.

Put Debit Spread

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (9)

SETUP: Long put + short lower strike put (same expiration)

For a deeper analysis of this strategy, check out our detailed primer on trading spreads.

Call Credit Spread

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (10)

SETUP: Short call + long higher strike call in the same expiration

For a deeper analysis of this strategy, check out our detailed primer on trading spreads.

Put Credit Spread

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (11)

SETUP: Short put + long lower strike Put in the same expiration

For a deeper analysis of this strategy, check out our detailed primer on trading spreads.

Iron Condor

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (12)

SETUP: Put credit spread (short put + lower long put) placed below the current stock price

Call credit spread (short Call + long higher strike call) placed above the current stock price

For a deeper analysis of spread strategies, check out our detailed primer on trading spreads.

Calendar

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (13)

SETUP: Short position + long position on the same underlying stock at the same strike price, but with different expiration dates.

Iron Butterfly

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (14)

SETUP: Put credit spread (a short put + a long put) + call credit spread (a short call + a long call).

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Disclosures

Disclosures

The Profit and Loss Chart (the “Chart”) assumes positions will be held until expiration. Actual losses may exceed calculated values due to changes in implied volatility, early assignment and ex-dividend dates, among other factors.

The Chart performs hypothetical calculations based on model assumptions and other inputs, which may not reflect actual market conditions and do not guarantee future results. The calculations do not incorporate taxes, fees, or annualized dividend yields. Failure to exercise an in-the-money options contract can cause actual profits and losses to differ from calculated values. The maximum loss on a spread position remains limited only as long as the integrity of the spread is maintained.

Options carry a significant level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Please read the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Options transactions are often complex and may involve the potential of losing the entire investment in a relatively short period of time. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk, including the potential for losses that may exceed the original investment amount.

Any hypothetical examples are provided for illustrative purposes only. Actual results will vary.

Content is provided for informational purposes only, does not constitute tax or investment advice, and is not a recommendation for any security or trading strategy. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Robinhood Financial does not guarantee favorable investment outcomes. Customers should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing in options. Because of the importance of tax considerations to all options transactions, the customer considering options should consult their tax advisor as to how taxes affect the outcome of each options strategy. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.

Reference No. 1550598-2018881

Still have questions? Contact Robinhood Support

The P/L Chart | Robinhood (2024)

FAQs

What is a PL chart? ›

What is a Profit & Loss chart? The P/L (Profit & Loss) chart helps you visualize an option strategy's theoretical profits or losses at expiration. This is a great way to gain some insight into any particular options strategy before you enter into a position.

How do I check my P&L on Robinhood? ›

How do I see earnings on Robinhood? Once you choose the company whose earnings you'd like to see, scroll down on its stock Detail page to the Earnings section. You'll see the amount of profit a company made in the most recent quarters in terms of “earnings per share,” or EPS.

What is the P and L on expiry? ›

The profit and loss of an option position at expiration is a function of the original premium and the difference in price between the futures contract and the strike price of the option.

What is P and L in stocks? ›

The profit and loss (P&L) statement is a financial statement that summarizes the revenues, costs, and expenses incurred during a specified period.

What is the best chart for P&L? ›

A Matrix Chart is one of the best graphs to show profit and loss in your business.

What is the difference between a balance sheet and a P&L? ›

Here's the main one: The balance sheet reports the assets, liabilities and shareholder equity at a specific point in time, while a P&L statement summarizes a company's revenues, costs, and expenses during a specific period of time.

How do I read my P&L? ›

How to read a P&L report
  1. Define the revenue. The revenue or top-line portion of the P&L report documents company revenue for analysis. ...
  2. Understand the expenses. ...
  3. Calculate the gross margin. ...
  4. Calculate the operating income. ...
  5. Use budget vs. ...
  6. Check the year-over-year (YoY) ...
  7. Determine net profit.
Mar 10, 2023

How do you calculate P&L for stocks? ›

To calculate your profit or loss, subtract the current price from the original price, also referred to as the "cost basis." The percentage change takes the result from above, divides it by the original purchase price, and multiplies that by 100.

How is the P&L calculated? ›

Your business's profit (or loss) is the difference between your income and your expenses. Put simply, that's the amount that comes into your business and the amount that goes out.

Do you lose money when an option expires? ›

If an option expires in-the-money, it will be automatically converted into long or short shares of stock in the associated underlying. If an option expires out-of-the-money, it therefore expires worthless, and it disappears from the account.

What is P and L adjustment? ›

Profit and loss adjustment account is prepared to record those transaction or omissions and errors which were left while preparing the final accounts and they are found after the final accounts have been prepared and the profits distributed among the partners.

What does P and L credit balance mean? ›

All the expenses are recorded on the debit side whereas all the incomes are recorded on the credit side. When the credit side is more than the debit side it denotes profit. Hence, Credit balance of Profit and loss account is profit. Was this answer helpful?

Why is the P&L statement important? ›

P&L statements are important because they help measure a business's success, enabling leadership to make more informed decisions. With a P&L statement in hand, management can determine which activities are generating a return on investment and which are losing money and then acting accordingly.

Is a low PE ratio good for a stock? ›

P/E ratio, or price-to-earnings ratio, is a quick way to see if a stock is undervalued or overvalued. And so generally speaking, the lower the P/E ratio is, the better it is for both the business and potential investors. The metric is the stock price of a company divided by its earnings per share.

Is a P&L the same as an income statement? ›

There is no difference between income statement and profit and loss. An income statement is often referred to as a P&L. The income statement is also known as statement of income or statement of operations.

What are the three types of P&L? ›

There are three main sections of a P&L statement: revenues, COGS, and Operational Expenses. Any listed line item on a P&L goes under either revenue or an expense account, and all these items determine the bottom line.

What is the most important on a P&L? ›

The top line of the P&L statement is revenue, or the total amount of income from the sale of goods or services associated with the company's primary operations.

How often should you do P&L? ›

The profit and loss statement shows a business's revenue, expenses, and net income over a period of time. Usually, the statement is made quarterly and annually, but some companies also prepare it monthly.

What is more important P&L or balance sheet? ›

A P&L is arguably the most important financial sheet your small business has. It shows the company's net income over a period of time, which can be monthly, quarterly, or yearly.

Should the P&L and balance sheet match? ›

The Balance Sheet report shows net income for current fiscal year and it should match the net income on the Profit & Loss report for current fiscal year.

What comes first P&L or balance sheet? ›

The income statement or Profit and Loss (P&L) comes first. This is the document where the income or revenue the business took in over a specific time frame is shown alongside expenses that were paid out and subtracted.

What are the five key components to a P&L statement? ›

Key Components of a Profit and Loss Report
  • Revenues. This entry represents the net sales or receipts during the accounting period. ...
  • Cost of Goods Sold. ...
  • Gross Profit. ...
  • Operating Expenses. ...
  • Operating Income. ...
  • Other Income and Expenses. ...
  • Net Profit.
Apr 13, 2023

At what percentage gain should you sell a stock? ›

How long should you hold? Here's a specific rule to help boost your prospects for long-term stock investing success: Once your stock has broken out, take most of your profits when they reach 20% to 25%. If market conditions are choppy and decent gains are hard to come by, then you could exit the entire position.

When should you sell stock for profit? ›

Reasons to sell a stock
  1. You've found something better. ...
  2. You made a mistake. ...
  3. The company's business outlook has changed. ...
  4. Tax reasons. ...
  5. Rebalancing your portfolio. ...
  6. Valuation no longer reflects business reality. ...
  7. You need the money. ...
  8. The stock has gone up.
Mar 8, 2023

What are two ways to make money in stocks? ›

So the two ways to make money with stocks are Dividends and Capital Gains. Investors should have a clear understanding of their strategy before purchasing stock so they know the best way to evaluate any potential stock purchase.

What is an example of a profit and loss? ›

Profit and Loss Examples

If a shopkeeper brings a cloth for Rs.100 and sells it for Rs.120, he has made a profit of Rs.20/-. If a salesperson has bought a textile material for Rs.300 and has to sell it for Rs.250/-, he has gone through a loss of Rs.50/-.

How do you manage a P&L? ›

How to manage profits and losses
  1. Complete P&L statements for specific accounting periods. You can begin managing your profits and losses by creating a P&L statement. ...
  2. Compare statements. ...
  3. Alter your business finances. ...
  4. Meet with a financial expert. ...
  5. Continue to keep records.
Jun 7, 2023

How does P&L flow to balance sheet? ›

The P&L and balance sheet are interconnected via the equity account in the balance sheet. Any debit or credit to a P&L account will instantly impact the balance sheet through being booked on the retained earnings line.

What happens if I don't sell my options before it expires? ›

An option contract, in contrast to stock, has an end date. It will lose much of its value if you can't buy, sell, or exercise your option before its expiration date. An option contract ceases trading at its expiration and is either exercised or worthless.

How long can you keep an option? ›

In general, the option holder has until 4:30 p.m. CT on expiration day to exercise the contract. These times are set by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC), the central clearing house for the options market. But some brokerage firms might have an earlier cutoff than the OCC threshold.

What happens if option price goes to zero? ›

Out-of-the-Money Options

Option value is zero so the premium paid is the loss incurred.

What are the golden rules of accounting? ›

Take a look at the three main rules of accounting: Debit the receiver and credit the giver. Debit what comes in and credit what goes out. Debit expenses and losses, credit income and gains.

What is hidden goodwill? ›

Hidden Goodwill means the value of goodwill that is not specified at the time of admission of a partner. If the new partner requires to bring the share of goodwill, then, in this case, we have to calculate the value of the firm's goodwill.

How do you adjust profit? ›

The operating profit should be adjusted for those items which have been deducted but which are not deductible for tax purposes; in this case depreciation and amortisation should be added back to the operating profit figure, and instead, capital allowances and the relevant lease adjustment (both explained below) should ...

Is profit an asset or equity? ›

What if your business generates money? Say your business earns a $5 profit that you put into a checking account. That profit is both an asset (cash) and equity (business profit held for future use). If your business collapsed tomorrow, the equity would be split between the owners.

What is the new name for the profit and loss account? ›

Answer and Explanation:

Another name for a profit and loss statement is the income statement.

Is a loss a debit or credit? ›

Nominal accounts: Expenses and losses are debited and incomes and gains are credited.

Why is Amazon PE ratio so high? ›

Why is Amazon PE Ratio so high? Amazon's P/E ratio is higher than most companies in the retail industry because investors are optimistic about its future growth potential. As mentioned, a high price multiple can indicate the market expects higher growth from a company.

Why is Tesla PE ratio so high? ›

This could let them get in front of a lot more customers very quickly once they start rolling out more electric models. In conclusion, Tesla shares have high valuations based on measures like P/E ratio and price/sales. This mostly results from its strong growth versus traditional automakers like GM and F.

What PE ratio is too high? ›

A PEG greater than 1 might be considered overvalued because it might indicate the stock price is too high compared to the company's expected earnings growth.

Is P&L a finance or accounting? ›

A profit and loss statement is a financial report that shows how much your business has spent and earned over a specified time. It also shows whether you've made a profit or a loss over that time – hence the name. A profit and loss statement might also be called a P&L or an income statement.

Is a P&L a cash flow statement? ›

The main difference between a profit and loss statement and a cash flow statement is that a profit and loss statement measures the profitability of the business model while a cash flow statement shows where your money is coming from, where it's going, and how much cash you actually have on hand at a given point in time ...

What does EBITDA stand for? ›

This key profitability measure is one of the main measures of a company's financial health and ability to generate cash. EBITDA is short for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

What does PL mean in trading? ›

The profit/loss ratio is the average profit on winning trades divided by the average loss on losing trades over a specified time period.

What does PL mean in mortgage? ›

Access to competitive interest rates

Profit and Loss mortgages are offered by a variety of lenders, including banks and mortgage brokers. This means that borrowers have access to competitive interest rates and loan terms.

What is PL reporting? ›

April 13, 2023. The profit and loss (P&L) report is a financial statement that summarizes the total income and total expenses of a business in a specific period of time. It is also known as the income statement or the statement of operations.

How do you read a P&L statement? ›

How to read a P&L report
  1. Define the revenue. The revenue or top-line portion of the P&L report documents company revenue for analysis. ...
  2. Understand the expenses. ...
  3. Calculate the gross margin. ...
  4. Calculate the operating income. ...
  5. Use budget vs. ...
  6. Check the year-over-year (YoY) ...
  7. Determine net profit.
Mar 10, 2023

What does pl mean in finance? ›

P/L, or P&L, stands for profit and loss statement. It is one of three key financial statements for a business. The other two statements are the balance sheet and statement of cash flows. The P/L calculates the profit or loss for a time period, usually a month or year.

What is the P&L formula for trading? ›

To calculate the profit or loss for an open trade, please use the formula below: BUY Trade: (Current rate - Open rate) X Units X USD exchange rate = P/L. SELL Trade: (Open rate - Current rate) X Units X USD exchange rate = P/L.

What is the difference between trading and PL? ›

While a trading account shows the buying and selling transactions of a business, a P&L account shows how much money a business has made or lost over a certain period of time. The trading account focuses on the cost of goods sold while the P&L account focuses on the revenues and expenses of the business.

What is the difference between P&L and cash flow? ›

The main difference between a profit and loss statement and a cash flow statement is that a profit and loss statement measures the profitability of the business model while a cash flow statement shows where your money is coming from, where it's going, and how much cash you actually have on hand at a given point in time ...

What is a P&L in real estate? ›

Profit and loss statements provide an investor with a snapshot of the income (or loss) a rental property is generating over a specific period of time. Some of the most common profit and loss statements used by real estate investors include: Monthly. Reports the income or loss from a rental property for a given month.

What do you think are the three most important parts of a P&L? ›

There are three main sections of a P&L statement: revenues, COGS, and Operational Expenses. Any listed line item on a P&L goes under either revenue or an expense account, and all these items determine the bottom line.

How do I run a P&L? ›

How to Write a Profit and Loss Statement
  1. Step 1 – Track Your Revenue. ...
  2. Step 2 – Determine the Cost of Sales. ...
  3. Step 3 – Figure Out Your Gross Profit. ...
  4. Step 4 – Add Up Your Overhead. ...
  5. Step 5 – Calculate Your Operating Income. ...
  6. Step 6 – Adjust for Other Income and/or Expenses. ...
  7. Step 7 – Net Profit: The Bottom Line.

What should I look for in a P&L report? ›

A P&L statement shows a company's revenue minus expenses for running the business, such as rent, cost of goods, freight, and payroll. Each entry on a P&L statement provides insight into the cash flow of the company and shows where money is coming from and how it is used.

What is the most important part of the P&L statement? ›

Net Earnings

This section is important and shows the profit/loss the business made in a given period.

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