Before It Expires

If the investor's opinion on the underlying stock changes significantly before the written call expires, whether more bullish or more bearish, the investor can make a closing purchase transaction of the call in the marketplace. This would close out the written call contract, relieving the investor of an obligation to sell his stock at the call's strike price. Before taking this action, the investor should weigh any realized profit or loss from the written call's purchase against any unrealized profit or loss from holding shares of the underlying stock. If the written call position is closed out in this manner, the investor can decide whether to make another option transaction to either generate income from and/or protect his shares, to hold the stock unprotected with options, or to sell the shares.

Alternatives at expiration?

As expiration day for the call option nears, the investor considers three scenarios and then accordingly makes a decision. The written call contract will either be in-the-money, at-the-money or out-of-the-money. If the investor feels the call will expire in-the-money, he can hope to be assigned an exercise notice on the written contract and sell an equivalent number of shares at the call's strike price. Alternatively, the investor can choose to close out the written call with a closing purchase transaction, canceling his obligation to sell stock at the call's strike price, and retain ownership of the underlying shares. Before taking this action, the investor should weigh any realized profit or loss from the written call's purchase against any unrealized profit or loss from holding shares of the underlying stock. If the investor feels the written call will expire out-of-the-money, no action is necessary. He can let the call option expire with no value and retain the entire premium received from its initial sale. If the written call expires exactly at-the-money, the investor should realize that assignment of an exercise notice on such a contract is possible, but should not be assumed. Consult with your brokerage firm or a financial advisor on the advisability of what action to take in this case.

What To Do at Expiration
Eventually, we will reach expiration day. What do you do then?

If the option is still out of the money it is likely that it will just expire worthless and not be exercised. In this case, you need do nothing. If you still want to hold the position, you could "roll out" and write another option against your stock further out in time. Although there is the possibility that an out of the money option will be exercised, this is extremely rare. 

If the option is in the money, you can expect the option to be exercised. Depending on your brokerage firm, it is very possible that you don't need to worry about this; everything will be automatic when the stock is called away. What you do need to be aware of, however, is what, if any, fees will be charged in this situation. You will need to be aware of this so that you can plan appropriately when determining whether writing a given covered call will be profitable.

Let's look at a brief example. Suppose that you buy 100 shares of XYZ at $38 and sell the July 40 calls for $1. In this case, you would bring in $100 in premium for the option you sold. This would make your cost basis on the stock $37 ($38 paid per share - $1 for the option). If the July expiration arrives and the stock is trading at or below $40 per share, it is very likely that the option will simply expire worthless and you will keep the premium (in cash). You can then continue to hold the stock and write another option for the next month if you choose.

If, however, the stock is trading at $41, you can expect the stock to be called away. You will be selling it at $40 - the option's strike price. But remember, you brought in $1 in premium for the option, so your profit on the trade will be $3 (bought the stock for $38, received $1 for the option, stock called away at $40). Likewise, if you had bought the stock and not sold the option, your profit in this example would be the same $3 (bought at $38, sold at $41). If the stock was higher than $41, the trader that held the stock and did not write the 40 call would be gaining more, whereas for the trader who wrote the 40 covered call the profits would be capped.