We present our ideas here at TheOptionsEdge.Com and we identify this portfolio as the TOE Trade ideas. In 2016 and 2017 we wrote for Action Alerts Options over at TheStreet.Com. We identify this portfolio as the AAO Trade ideas. The following table summarizes the performance of all our ideas since we started publishing in 2016. We have broken up the analysis into three sub-components. (1) Trades that are still open, (2) Trades that were closed so far in 2017, and (3) those trades that were closed in 2016.
Computing returns for options trades in a manner that is comparable to a stock portfolio are somewhat challenging. Some people like to compare gains and losses to the price of the underlying security. By this method, the average annualized return enjoyed was 5.6%. It is worth noting that this method has far less risk as the underlying stock, as the options strategies we use generally have limited risk compared to a stock holding. An alternative method is to compare the gains and losses on the options trades to the Capital at Risk. This method is closer to the risk of holding stocks but it tends to be more volatile. By this measure, the tactical portfolio generated an annualized return of 22.1%.
For more on how we calculate returns, click here.
At this options expiration, we took closed out 6 trades and took profits of about $393. We still have 22 trades open, most of which are performing as expected. There are three trades however that have caught us by surprise and have temporarily moved against us. We are long Gilead Sciences in a buy/write and this position is down $854. We are sticking with the trade because we think the shares are massively undervalued and will rebound as soon as they announce the success of one of their 6 drugs in phase III trials. In the meantime, we collect option premium and dividends. The other trade that caught of off balance was Westrock, the paper products company. It is a no growth company trading at 80 times trailing earnings and we think analysts are way too optimistic about earnings this upcoming year. This trade has moved $400 against us. The same story holds true for Westrock the online furniture store. That position has $315 against us. The WRK and W trades were structured as spreads and so we are essentially stopped out. We are leaving the on the books as there is little to lose and much to gain from this point forward.
You probably want to know more about the individual trades we made, particularly if you are evaluating our service for the first time. The following links will take you to tables that summarize the ideas we have discussed. Those tables will have the date of trade initiation, prices at which the trade was recommended and the closing prices. This leads us to the profit on a trade by trade basis. The performance of the closed trades is available for everyone to evaluate. The summary of open trades is strictly reserved for our subscribers.
- The Options Edge Open Trades
- The Options Edge Closed Trades in 2017
- Action Alerts Options (TheStreet.Com) Trades Closed in 2017
- ActionAlerts Options (TheStreet.Com) Trades Closed in 2016
