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14 Comments

  1. Ulrich
    August 30, 2019 @ 7:00 am

    Interestingly, you can tell me how much margin is needed for this approach?

    45 days to execution = 6.4 weeks.
    This is again 32 trading days.

    One EEM = 40$

    Volume at peak is therefore 32*40$*100 pieces = 128k

    Margin 20% = 26k

    So doubled for safety = 52k

    Is that right?

    Reply

    • spintwig.com
      August 30, 2019 @ 8:37 am

      Sure!

      Using the 16D hold-till-expiration strategy, the maximum number of open positions at any time was 44. This occurred twice: Nov 20 2009 and Nov 19 2010. On those days the notional exposure was $154,200 and $182,800 respectively. These would be your stress points, ignoring any buying power expansion risk due to iv fluctuations. Assuming 20% margin requirement, we’re looking at $30,840 and $36,560 + any buffer / safety margin.

      Reply

  2. Ulrich
    August 30, 2019 @ 9:38 am

    Thank you so much for your super work.

    When I think about it, the question is why.

    You have tested the same strategy on several underlyings EEM, IWM, SPY… these are all big indices… the results go in a similar direction – but vary slightly.

    Now we have an overperformance.
    Why should the EEM be better than the other in the future?
    There is no rational explanation for that, is there?

    I think the short put strategy is pretty good in itself.

    Proposition: Because the strategy is so good and you test different underlyings, there will always be some that outperform over long periods of time. But I think that these changes will… maybe in the next 10 years the SPY will be the Winner

    Reply

    • spintwig.com
      August 30, 2019 @ 10:34 am

      My thought is 1) EEM experienced enough volatility to keep premium received relatively high, particularly from Jan 2012 through Jan 2015 while 2) the movements up or down were short in duration. These two attributes appeared to allow the option strategy to outperform while the underlying essentially went nowhere.

      Over the course of 2017 alone EEM closed the gap and eventually outperformed the 16D strategy. From 2018 onward it again begin to underperform.

      You’re on to something with the testing of different underlying. Indeed, some will simply outperform while others will underperform. My hypothesis was all the indices would underperform; we now see that hypothesis is false.

      I’ll eventually start exploring individual stocks. Curious to see whether the general trend for the option strategies is to outperform, underperform, or yield comparable performance relative to buy/hold.

      Reply

      • Ulrich
        August 31, 2019 @ 7:24 am

        In my opinion, individual stocks could be just as interesting, even if the analyses are more elaborate.

        Will you test David’s SPY Put Write Stop strategy? I read about it in the Ern blog comments. With the stops at 2x,3x and 5x premium…?

        We have only 1 year so far… Does not say so much so far…

        Reply

        • spintwig.com
          September 3, 2019 @ 3:24 pm

          Yes, I’ll add it to the list. Looking to get the TLT and VXX studies out the door this and next Friday, respectively. I may be able to make it for the following Friday.

          David’s strategy revolves around VIX – when below a given threshold trade ~2DTE and when above a given threshold trade ~45DTE.

          Keeping consistent with previous methodology, I’ll test the 45DTE strategy with 1-5x stop losses and compare against early mgmt with no stop losses and holding till expiration. That should cover all the bases.

          Let me know if I’m overlooking anything or if there are any adjustments I should make to the approach.

          Reply

        • spintwig.com
          September 9, 2019 @ 2:11 pm

          The SPY short put study has been updated with 1x-5x stop loss details.

          https://spintwig.com/spy-short-put-strategy-performance

          Reply

  3. Ulrich
    September 11, 2019 @ 4:39 am

    Great, there’s another thing. DTE! ERN is a big follower always only the shortest distance to act, so 2 days. You are relatively fixed in your evaluations on 21 days. He explains why shorter periods are better. Whether then each day must be acted is questionable. Interesting is from Friday on Monday on Wednesday on Friday… This evaluation would be in my eyes the final examination.

    Reply

    • Ulrich
      September 11, 2019 @ 4:43 am

      Sorry not 21 – i meant 45 Days

      Reply

  4. pdadu
    February 22, 2020 @ 10:28 am

    Premiums on lower deltas are pretty low. Its even worth doing it for such a low premium. Looks like 16D is sweetspot. Comments?

    Reply

    • spintwig.com
      February 22, 2020 @ 3:57 pm

      Agree. 16D has the best risk-adjusted returns so it’s a great starting point for implementing int’l exposure in a portfolio.

      The nice thing is, if you’re targeting a specific amount of volatility as opposed to a specific amount of return (great for managing sequence of returns risk), there are several strategies to choose from that outperform buy/hold without using leverage. It all comes down to your goal(s).

      Reply

  5. Perig
    January 28, 2021 @ 1:47 pm

    I’ve been looking at a strategy that can be applied in an IRA where margin cannot be used (were generating any alpha with cash secured options is almost impossible) so this would be a good possible option to look more into. Any other recommendations based on your studies?

    Reply

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