Synthetic Short Stock

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The Synthetic Short Stock is an options strategy used to simulate the payoff of a short stock position. It is entered by selling at-the-money calls and buying an equal number of at-the-money puts of the same underlying stock and expiration date.

This is an limited profit, unlimited risk options trading strategy that is taken when the options trader is bearish on the underlying security but seeks an alternative to short selling the stock.

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Profit potential

Similar to a short stock position, there is no maximum profit for the Synthetic Short Stock. The options trader stands to profit as long as the underlying stock price goes down.

Additionally, a credit is usually taken when entering this position since calls are generally more expensive than puts. Hence, even if the underlying stock price remains unchanged on expiration date, there will still be a profit equal to the initial credit taken.

Unlimited Risk

Like the short stock position, heavy losses can occur for the Synthetic Short Stock if the underlying stock price shoots upwards.

Breakeven Point(s)

Example

Suppose XYZ stock is trading at $40 in June. An options trader setups a Synthetic Short Stock by buying a JUL 40 put for $100 and selling a JUL 40 call for $150. The net credit taken to enter the trade is $50.

If XYZ stock rallies and is trading at $50 on expiration in July, the long JUL 40 put will expire worthless but the short JUL 40 call expires in the money and has an intrinsic value of $1000. Buying back this short call will require $1000 and subtracting the initial $50 credit taken when entering the trade, the trader's loss comes to $950. Comparatively, this is very close to the loss of $1000 for a short stock position.

On expiration in July, if XYZ stock is instead trading at $30, the short JUL 40 call will expire worthless while the long JUL 40 put will expire in the money and be worth $1000. Including the initial $50 credit taken, the trader's profit comes to $1050. This amount closely approximates the $1000 gain of the corresponding short stock position.

Commissions

For ease of understanding, these examples exclude commissions, fees and financing costs. Include all costs when comparing an actual position; there is no universal commission amount.

For active traders, transaction costs can consume a significant part of returns. Compare the full commission and fee schedule, exercise and assignment charges, and bid-ask spreads. The cost of entering and closing every leg matters.

Advantages vs Short Stock

Three important reasons make the Synthetic Short Stock strategy superior to actual short selling of the underlying stock. Firstly, there is no need to borrow stock to short sell. Secondly, there is no need to wait for the uptick, thus transactions are more timely. Finally, there is no need to pay dividends on the short stock (if the underlying security is a dividend paying stock).

Synthetic Short Stock (Split Strikes)

There is a more aggressive version of this strategy where both the call and put options involved are out-of-the-money. While a larger downside movement of the underlying stock price is required to make large profits, this split strikes strategy does provide more room for error.

Synthetic Long Stock

The converse strategy to the Synthetic Short Stock is the Synthetic Long Stock, which is used when the options trader is bullish on the underlying but seeks an alternative to purchasing the stock itself.

Before expiration and assignment

The diagrams and worked outcomes describe expiration payoffs, not an option’s market price before expiration. Time decay, implied volatility, rates, dividends and bid-ask spreads affect early closing values. American-style short options can be assigned early; a protective long option is not automatically exercised when a short leg is assigned. Closing or exercising one leg can change the remaining position’s risk.