Cash-Secured Put Calculator
What you earn for agreeing to buy a stock lower, and the effective price you pay if you are assigned.
Profit and loss at expiration
Annualized figures assume the same trade repeats at the same premium all year. Use them to compare candidate trades, not as an income forecast.
Selling a cash-secured put pays you a premium for the obligation to buy 100 shares at the strike. You set aside the cash to do it. If the stock stays above the strike the put expires worthless and you keep the premium; below it, you buy the shares at an effective price of strike minus premium.
Frequently asked questions
What does cash-secured mean?
You hold enough cash to buy 100 shares at the strike for every contract sold. A $45 strike requires $4,500 set aside. Selling the same put on margin is a naked put, which can force liquidation in a sharp decline.
What is my maximum profit?
The premium, and nothing more. However far the stock rises, your gain is capped at what you collected, which is the mirror image of the covered call giving up upside.
Is this safer than just buying the stock?
Slightly, and only in one direction. Your break-even is below the current price by the premium collected, so you beat a stock buyer in every scenario except a rally. Below the strike your exposure is essentially the same as owning shares.
What is the wheel strategy?
Selling cash-secured puts until assigned, then selling covered calls against those shares until they are called away, then repeating. Both legs express the same view: you are content owning the stock within a range and will sell the tails for income.
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Calculators model hypothetical outcomes from the inputs you provide. They are informational only, not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.