Iron condor

The "Iron Condor" is an advanced option trading strategy utilizing two vertical spreads – a Bull Put Spread and a Bear Call Spread with the same expiration. The number of call spreads will be equal to the number of put spreads.

The position is so named due to the shape of the profit/loss graph, which loosely resembles a large-bodied bird, such as a condor. In keeping with this analogy, traders often refer to the inner options collectively as the "body" and the outer options as the "wings". The word "Iron" in the name of this position indicates that, like an Iron Butterfly, this position is played across the current spot price of the underlying instrument having one vertical spread below and one vertical spread above the current spot price. This distinguishes the position from a plain Condor position, which would be played with all strikes above, or below the current spot price of the underlying instrument. A Call Condor would be played with all call contracts and a Put Condor would be played with all put contracts.

One of the practical advantages of an Iron Condor over a single vertical spread (a put spread or call spread), is that the initial and maintenance margin requirements [ [http://www.cboe.com/tradtool/marginmanual2000.pdf Chicago Board Options Exchange - Margin Manual] ] for the Iron Condor is often the same as the margin requirements for a single vertical spread, yet the Iron Condor offers the profit potential of two net credit premiums instead of only one. This can significantly improve the potential rate of return on capital risked when the trader doesn't expect the underlying instrument's spot price to change significantly.

Another practical advantage of the Iron Condor is that if the spot price of the underlying is between the inner strikes towards the end of the option contract, the trader can avoid additional transaction charges by simply letting all some or all of the options contracts expire. If the trader is uncomfortable, however, with the proximity of the underlying's spot price to one of the inner strikes and/or is concerned about pin risk, then the trader can close one or both sides of the position by first re-purchasing the written options and then selling the purchased options.

Long Iron Condor

To buy or "go long" an Iron Condor, the trader will buy (long) options contracts for the outer strikes using an out-of-the-money put and out-of-the-money call. The trader will also sell or write (short) the options contracts for the inner strikes, again using an out-of-the-money put and out-of-the-money call. The difference between the put contract strikes will generally be the same as the distance between the call contract strikes.

Since the premium earned on the sales of the written contracts is very likely greater than the premium paid on the purchased contracts, a long Iron Condor is typically a net credit transaction. This net credit represents the maximum profit potential for an Iron Condor.

The potential loss of a long Iron Condor is the difference between the strikes on either the call spread or the put spread (whichever is greater if it is not balanced) multiplied by the contract size (typically 100 or 1000 shares of the underlying instrument), less the net credit received.

A trader who buys an Iron Condor speculates that the spot price of the underlying instrument will be between the short strikes when the options expire where the position is the most profitable. Thus, the Iron Condor is an options strategy considered when the trader has a neutral outlook for the market.

Long Iron Condors are popular with traders who seek regular income from their trading capital. An Iron Condor buyer will attempt to construct the trade so that the short strikes are close enough that the position will earn a desirable net credit, but wide enough apart so that it is likely that the spot price of the underlying will remain between the short strikes for the duration of the options contract. The trader would typically play Iron Condors every month (if possible) thus generating monthly income with the strategy.

Related Strategies

An option trader who considers a long Iron Condor is one who expects the price of the underlying instrument to change very little for a significant duration of time. This trader might also consider one or more of the following strategies.

* A short "Strangle" is effectively a long Iron Condor, but without the wings. It is constructed by writing an out-of-the-money put and an out-of-the money call. A short Strangle with the same short strikes as an Iron Condor is generally more profitable, but unlike a long Iron Condor, the short Strangle offers no protection to limit losses should the underlying instrument's spot price change dramatically.

* A long "Iron Butterfly" is very similar to a long Iron Condor, except that the inner, short strikes are at the same strike. The Iron Butterfly requires the underlying instrument's spot price to remain virtually unchanged over the life of the contract in order to retain the full net credit, but the trade is potentially more profitable (larger net credit) than an Iron Condor.

* A short "Straddle" is effectively a long Iron Butterfly without the wings and is constructed simply by writing an at-the-money call and an at-the-money put. Similar to a short Strangle, the short Straddle offers no protection to limit losses and similar to a long Iron Butterfly, the Straddle requires the underlying instrument's spot price to remain virtually unchanged over the life of the contract in order to retain the full net credit.

* A "Bull Put Spread" is simply the lower side of a long Iron Condor and has virtually identical initial and maintenance margin requirements.

* A "Bear Call Spread" is simply the upper side of a long Iron Condor and has virtually identical initial and maintenance margin requirements.

Short Iron Condor

To sell or "go short" an Iron Condor, the trader will buy (long) options contracts for the inner strikes using an out-of-the-money put and out-of-the-money call options. The trader will then also sell or write (short) the options contracts for the outer strikes.

Since the premium earned on the sales of the written contracts is very likely less than the premium paid for the purchased contracts, a short Iron Condor is typically a net debit transaction. This debit represents the maximum potential loss for the short Iron Condor.

The potential profit for a short Iron Condor is the difference between the strikes on either the call spread or the put spread (whichever is greater if it is not balanced) multiplied by the size of each contract (typically 100 or 1000 shares of the underlying instrument) less the net debit paid.

A trader who sells an Iron Condor speculates that the spot price of the underlying instrument will not be between the short strikes when the options expire. If the spot price of the underlying is less than the outer put strike, or greater than the outer call strike at expiration, then the short Iron Condor trader will realise the maximum profit potential.

Related Strategies

An option trader who considers a short Iron Condor strategy is one who expects the price of the underlying to change greatly, but isn't certain of the direction of the change. This trader might also consider one or more of the following strategies.

* A "Strangle" is effectively a short Iron Condor, but without the wings. It is constructed by purchasing an out-ot-the-money put and an out-of-the money call. While the short Iron Condor is a less expensive trade (smaller net debit), the Strangle does not restrict profit potential in the case of a dramatic change in the spot price of the underlying instrument.

* A short "Iron Butterfly" is very similar to a short Iron Condor, except that the inner, long strikes are at the same strike. The resulting position requires the underlying's spot price to change less before there is a profit, but the trade is typically more expensive (larger net debit) than a short Iron Condor.

* A "Straddle" is effectively a short Iron Butterfly without the wings and is constructed simply by purchasing an at-the-money call and an at-the-money put. Similar to the Strangle, the Straddle offers a greater profit potential at the expense of a greater net debit.

* A "Bear Put Spread" is simply the lower side of a short Iron Condor and has virtually identical initial and maintenance margin requirements.

* A "Bull Call Spread" is simply the upper side of a short Iron Condor and has virtually identical initial and maintenance margin requirements.

References