For Netflix, The 'Quiet' Period Has Meant a Consistent Pattern of Profitable Stock Option Trading
For Netflix, The 'Quiet' Period Has Meant a Consistent Pattern of Profitable Stock Option Trading
Date Published: 2018-08-28
Disclaimer
The results here are provided for general informational purposes, as a convenience to the readers. The materials are not a substitute for obtaining professional advice from a qualified person, firm or corporation.LEDE
Working off of several prior dossiers that look at the 'quiet period' for stocks, about a month after earnings for the next 30-days, we have found a pattern of stock movement that has led to compelling back-tests. While we discussed Amazon and Facebook, Netflix too has our attention.Why Look at This?
There will come a time when straight down the middle directional speculation will not work -- the bull market will turn, or at the very least, will pause. That does not mean that back-testing and option analysis stops -- in fact, it may be even better.There is a lesson here for everyone -- just betting that the stock market will rise, even through a decade of a bull market, isn't the only way to find profitable back-tests.
Custom Timing
First we'll start with timing. Here it is:
The trade opens 40 days after earnings and closes 25 before the next earnings date. But in reality, it's much simpler -- this back-test looks at a trade opening 40 days after earnings, and then simply closing a month later. NFLX last had earnings on 7-16-2018.
Building the Strategy Before We See the Results
We constructed a multi-leg strategy, just as we did for the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) back-test, but that is not code for complicated -- it has just a few steps. Here is the entire image, and then we will break it down, leg by leg.
Rather than take this is one big trade, we can actually break it into two familiar trades.
Rules
The first leg is simply long one put spread:* Long one 37/20 delta monthly put spread.
This is long one put spread
The second leg is simply short two put spreads:
* Short two 30/10 delta monthly put spreads.
This is short two put spreads
What Does This Mean?
This is casually called a ratio put spread, and specifically this is a 1 x 2 x 1 x 2 (read out loud as "1 by 2 by 1 by 2") put spread.The idea is to create an option position that:
* Creates a credit at onset.
* Has no upside risk (a stock rise to any price should be profitable).
* Has some downside bias (if the stock goes down "a little" it profits at the maximum level)
* Has a hard limit on total downside.
Broadly speaking, this is how all of that looks in a profit and loss chart at expiration:
This strategy is profitable in the green shaded area, and shows a loss in the red shaded area.
To get your bearings:
* The maximum loss starts at the lowest strike price. Any stock price there or lower shows a capped loss at its maximum.
* The maximum gain occurred right at the second-strike price (the first short strike price), which is below the initial stock price at onset of the trade.
This strategy does well in a bull market but does best in a slightly bearish market. It does worst when there is a large stock drop, but that loss is capped.
Finally, The Results
Here are the results of this strategy over the last three-years, or 12 post-earnings periods.
And finally, for completeness, over the last four post-earnings periods :
How to Try This Yourself
We simply used the Trade Machine® Custom Strategy builder. You can create it yourself immediately as a Trade Machine member, by simply clicking on any of the back-test links above, then click the "edit" button, and save.What Do We have
We now have a custom strategy used on the S&P 500, Russell 2000 (IWM), Amazon, Facebook and now used on Netflix.In a few mouse clicks and about 30 seconds, we empirically identify a pattern that has repeatedly turned a profit over and over again, then displayed those results with no room for confusion or doubt. You can tap the link below to become your own option expert.
Tap Here, See for Yourself
Risk Disclosure
You should read the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options.
Past performance is not an indication of future results.
Trading futures and options involves the risk of loss. Please consider carefully whether futures or options are appropriate to your financial situation. Only risk capital should be used when trading futures or options. Investors could lose more than their initial investment.
Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. The risk of loss in trading can be substantial, carefully consider the inherent risks of such an investment in light of your financial condition.
Please note that the executions and other statistics in this article are hypothetical, and do not reflect the impact, if any, of certain market factors such as liquidity and slippage.