Playing with a Doggy Stock
By Dr. Paul Price of Market Shadows
There are two types of people in this world: pet lovers and non-pet lovers.
We're talking about pet-lovers here. Pet lovers, including subcategories dog-people and cat-people, will make incredible sacrifices for their animals. They have been known to spend wild amounts of money to keep their pets happy. Several, the severely afflicted, have tried to leave entire estates to their pets. These pet-loving spenders support the company PetSmart (PETM).
This morning's 225 point DJIA decline took shares of PetSmart (PETM) down to $62.33 by 10 a.m. I think that's a good price.
Market Shadows' Virtual Put Writing Portfolio SOLD one contract each of the Jan. 2015, $60 and $62.50 strike puts for $4.60 and $5.83, respectively. The $62.50 strike price put takes a slightly more bullish view in order to capture a bit more premium up front.
Break-even on the more aggressive strike price ($62.50) takes the option's 'if put' price all the way down to $56.67 – near the stock's low price since May of 2012.
Best case: we keep the premium we collected from selling the put. Worse case: we own the shares cheaper than they're trading for now.
****
If you aren't already on our subscription list, see the graphic below and sign up on our home page to get email alerts for changes in our virtual portfolios and new articles. Click here.
