Options Profit Calculator

About Options Profit Calculator

Welcome to the Options Profit Calculator, a comprehensive free online tool designed to help you visualize and understand the profit and loss potential of basic option strategies at expiration. Whether you are new to options trading or an experienced trader analyzing potential trades, this calculator provides clear insights into Long Call and Long Put strategies with interactive payoff diagrams and detailed risk analysis.

What Are Options?

Options are financial derivatives that give buyers the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset (like stocks) at a predetermined price (strike price) within a specific time period. Options come in two basic types:

• Call Options: Give the holder the right to BUY the underlying stock at the strike price
• Put Options: Give the holder the right to SELL the underlying stock at the strike price

The buyer pays a premium upfront for this right. If the option expires worthless (out of the money), the buyer loses only the premium paid. This limited risk characteristic makes buying options attractive for many traders.

Understanding Long Call and Long Put Strategies

How to Calculate Option Profit and Loss

Long Call P/L Formula

For a Long Call:

• If Stock Price > Strike: P/L = (Stock Price - Strike - Premium) x 100 x Contracts
• If Stock Price ≤ Strike: P/L = -Premium x 100 x Contracts (total loss of premium)

Long Put P/L Formula

For a Long Put:

• If Stock Price < Strike: P/L = (Strike - Stock Price - Premium) x 100 x Contracts
• If Stock Price ≥ Strike: P/L = -Premium x 100 x Contracts (total loss of premium)

Break-Even Price Formulas

How to Use This Calculator

1. Select Option Type: Choose "Long Call" if you expect the stock to rise, or "Long Put" if you expect it to fall.
2. Enter Strike Price: Input the strike price of the option contract you are considering or already hold.
3. Enter Premium Per Share: Input the option premium cost per share. Remember that each contract controls 100 shares, so total cost = premium x 100 x contracts.
4. Specify Number of Contracts: Enter how many contracts you are analyzing. The calculator will multiply by 100 shares per contract automatically.
5. Enter Current Stock Price (Optional): If provided, the calculator will show whether your option is currently ITM, ATM, or OTM, plus the intrinsic and time value breakdown.
6. Click Calculate: View the interactive payoff chart, key metrics (break-even, max profit, max loss), and a P/L table at various stock prices.

Understanding Your Results

Key Metrics Explained

• Break-Even Price: The stock price at which you neither profit nor lose at expiration. The stock must move beyond this point in your expected direction for profit.
• Maximum Loss: The total premium you paid. This is the most you can lose buying an option.
• Maximum Profit: For Long Calls, theoretically unlimited. For Long Puts, maximum occurs if the stock falls to $0.
• Total Premium Paid: Your upfront cost = Premium per share x 100 x Number of contracts.

The Payoff Diagram

The interactive chart shows your profit or loss (Y-axis) at various stock prices (X-axis) at expiration. Key features:

• Green area: Profit zone where stock price results in gains
• Red area: Loss zone (limited to premium paid for long options)
• Strike line: Vertical line showing your option's strike price
• Break-even line: Vertical line showing where P/L equals zero
• Current price line: If provided, shows where the stock currently trades

Option Moneyness (ITM/ATM/OTM)

• In The Money (ITM): The option has intrinsic value. For calls: stock > strike. For puts: stock < strike.
• At The Money (ATM): Stock price equals or is very close to the strike price.
• Out of The Money (OTM): The option has no intrinsic value. For calls: stock < strike. For puts: stock > strike.

Intrinsic vs Time Value

• Intrinsic Value: The immediate exercise value if any. For calls: max(0, stock - strike). For puts: max(0, strike - stock).
• Time Value (Extrinsic Value): Premium minus intrinsic value. Represents the probability of favorable price movement before expiration. Decays as expiration approaches (theta decay).

Important Considerations for Options Traders

Time Decay (Theta)

Options are "wasting assets" - their time value decreases as expiration approaches. This means buying options requires not just being right about direction, but also timing. The stock must move enough, fast enough, to overcome theta decay and the premium paid.

Implied Volatility

Higher implied volatility increases option premiums. Buying options when IV is high means you need a larger stock move to profit. Conversely, a drop in IV after purchase can hurt your position even if the stock moves in your favor.

Leverage and Risk

Options provide leverage - controlling 100 shares with less capital. However, leverage works both ways. While maximum loss is limited to premium paid, it is easy to lose 100% of your investment if the option expires worthless.

When to Use Long Options

• Long Call: Strongly bullish, expecting significant upward move before expiration. Often used around expected positive catalysts (earnings, FDA approvals, etc.).
• Long Put: Strongly bearish or hedging existing long stock positions. Provides downside protection or speculative profit opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Long Call option?

A Long Call is a bullish options strategy where you buy a call option, giving you the right (but not obligation) to purchase the underlying stock at the strike price before expiration. You profit when the stock price rises above the break-even point (strike price + premium paid). Maximum loss is limited to the premium paid, while maximum profit is theoretically unlimited.

What is a Long Put option?

A Long Put is a bearish options strategy where you buy a put option, giving you the right (but not obligation) to sell the underlying stock at the strike price before expiration. You profit when the stock price falls below the break-even point (strike price - premium paid). Maximum loss is limited to the premium paid, while maximum profit occurs if the stock goes to zero.

How do I calculate the break-even price for options?

For a Long Call, break-even = Strike Price + Premium Paid. For a Long Put, break-even = Strike Price - Premium Paid. At expiration, if the stock price equals the break-even price, you neither profit nor lose (excluding commissions). The stock must move beyond the break-even point in the expected direction for you to profit.

What does ITM, ATM, and OTM mean in options trading?

ITM (In The Money): A call is ITM when stock price > strike price; a put is ITM when stock price < strike price. ATM (At The Money): When stock price equals or is very close to the strike price. OTM (Out of The Money): A call is OTM when stock price < strike price; a put is OTM when stock price > strike price. ITM options have intrinsic value; OTM options have only time value.

What is the difference between intrinsic value and time value?

Intrinsic value is the amount by which an option is in the money - the immediate exercise value. For a call: max(0, stock price - strike). For a put: max(0, strike - stock price). Time value (extrinsic value) is the portion of the premium above intrinsic value, representing the probability of future favorable price movement before expiration. Time value decreases as expiration approaches (theta decay).

Additional Resources

• Options Basics - Investopedia
• Options Education - CBOE
• Options Industry Council - Education