Options Education

Short Call Condor Option Strategy

Snapshot
Legs
Sell 1 Low Call + Buy 1 Mid-Low Call + Buy 1 Mid-High Call + Sell 1 High Call
Outlook
High Volatility / Direction Agnostic
Max profit
Net credit received
Max Loss
Width between adjacent strikes minus net credit received

A short call condor option strategy uses four call options at four different strike prices. You sell the lowest strike call, buy the second lowest, buy the second highest, and sell the highest strike call. You collect a net credit upfront when entering this position. Investors use this strategy when they anticipate that the stock price will make a significant move away from the central price region before expiration.

Your maximum profit is limited to the net credit collected when opening the trade, earned if the stock price closes outside the lowest or highest strike prices. The maximum loss occurs if the stock lands between the two middle strike prices at expiration, equaling the distance between adjacent strikes minus the net credit received.

Example
Stock
$100
Trade
  • Sell $90 Call for $11.00
  • Buy $95 Call for $6.50
  • Buy $105 Call for $1.50
  • Sell $110 Call for $0.50
→ $3.50 credit ($350)
Breakevens
$93.50 / $106.50
Outcomes
  • Stock ≤ $90 or ≥ $110: +$350 Max Profit
  • Stock at $93.50 or $106.50: $0 Breakeven
  • Stock between $95 and $105: -$150 Max Loss
Profit & loss at expiration Profit 0 Loss Stock Price → Max Profit Max Profit Max Loss at Middle
Max profit is the net credit outside the outer strikes. Max loss sits in the middle range between the two inner strikes.