Risk Reversal (Combo) Strategy
Combine an OTM call and OTM put at different strikes for directional exposure. Long combo (bullish): buy OTM call, sell OTM put. Short combo (bearish): buy OTM put, sell OTM call.
Overview
The risk reversal (also called "combo") strategy combines an OTM call and OTM put at different strikes. Unlike synthetic forwards that use ATM options, risk reversals use out-of-the-money options creating a gap between strikes.
A long combo buys an OTM call (strike K₁) and sells an OTM put (strike K₂, where K₂ < K₁). This is bullish—you profit if the stock rises above K₁, lose if it falls below K₂, and have flat P&L in between.
The strategy is often executed for zero or near-zero cost (H ≈ 0) by choosing strikes where the call premium equals the put premium. This provides leveraged directional exposure without upfront capital.
Key Insight
Position Logic
Formulas
Key Insight
The shaded neutral zone ($90-$110) shows where both options expire worthless. Zero-cost entry means no P&L in this zone. Profit/loss only kicks in beyond the strikes.
Research
Research on risk reversals, skew trading, and directional options strategies.
The Mathematics
In Plain English
The math behind this strategy is straightforward. Here's what you're actually doing:
- 1Long combo (bullish): Buy an OTM call at K₁, sell an OTM put at K₂ (where K₂ < current price < K₁). Profit above K₁, lose below K₂.
- 2Short combo (bearish): Buy an OTM put at K₁, sell an OTM call at K₂ (where K₁ < current price < K₂). Profit below K₁, lose above K₂.
- 3Neutral zone: Between the two strikes, both options expire worthless. P&L equals the net premium paid or received.
- 4Zero-cost structure: Choose strikes where call and put premiums match (H = 0). Breakeven is then at K₁ (upside) and K₂ (downside).
That's it. The formulas below just express this process precisely.
1Long Combo Payoff
Long call payoff minus short put payoff minus net debit. K₁ is call strike, K₂ is put strike.
2Long Combo Breakeven (H > 0)
If net debit paid, breakeven is above the call strike.
3Long Combo Breakeven (H < 0)
If net credit received, breakeven is below the put strike.
4Long Combo Breakeven (H = 0)
If zero cost, any price between strikes is breakeven (flat P&L zone).
5Long Combo Max Profit
No cap on upside as stock rises above K₁.
6Long Combo Max Loss
Maximum loss if stock goes to zero.
7Short Combo Payoff
Long put payoff minus short call payoff. Profits as stock declines.
8Short Combo Max Profit
Maximum profit if stock goes to zero.
9Short Combo Max Loss
Unlimited loss as stock rises above K₂.
Risk Reversal vs Synthetic ForwardNote
A synthetic forward uses ATM options (same strike), while a risk reversal uses OTM options (different strikes). The risk reversal creates a "dead zone" between strikes where P&L is flat, reducing sensitivity to small price moves but maintaining leveraged exposure to larger moves.
Strategy Rules
Long Combo Setup
- 1Select OTM call strike K₁ above current price (e.g., 5-10% OTM)
- 2Select OTM put strike K₂ below current price (e.g., 5-10% OTM)
- 3Buy 1 call at K₁, sell 1 put at K₂ (same expiration)
- 4Adjust strikes to achieve desired net cost (H ≈ 0 for zero-cost)
- 5Verify K₁ > K₂ (call strike above put strike)
Short Combo Setup
- 1Select OTM put strike K₁ below current price
- 2Select OTM call strike K₂ above current price
- 3Buy 1 put at K₁, sell 1 call at K₂ (same expiration)
- 4Creates bearish exposure with unlimited upside risk
- 5Verify K₂ > K₁ (call strike above put strike)
Strike Selection
- Wider strikes = larger neutral zone but less leverage
- Narrower strikes = smaller neutral zone, more like synthetic
- Match call/put delta for zero-cost (e.g., 25-delta each)
- Consider implied volatility skew when selecting strikes
- Liquid strikes (round numbers) have tighter spreads
Exit Strategies
- Close both legs if stock reaches profit target
- Roll to new strikes if expiration approaches with stock in neutral zone
- Stop-loss: close if stock moves significantly against position
- Let expire worthless if in neutral zone (keep any credit received)
- Consider early exit if volatility collapses after entry
Implementation Guide
Implementing a risk reversal involves selecting two OTM strikes and combining a long option at one strike with a short option at the other.
Determine Direction and Strikes
For bullish (long combo): choose an OTM call strike above the current price and an OTM put strike below. Common setups use 25-delta options (roughly 5-10% OTM) for both legs.
- 25-delta strikes are popular for balanced exposure
- Wider strikes reduce premium but increase neutral zone
- Check the skew—puts are often more expensive than equidistant calls
Price for Zero Cost
To execute for zero cost, adjust strikes until the call premium equals the put premium. Due to put-call skew, the put strike may need to be closer to ATM than the call strike.
- Use options calculator to find zero-cost strikes
- Accept small debit/credit if zero-cost strikes are illiquid
- Skew varies by underlying—check before assuming symmetry
Put skew means puts are often more expensive than calls at similar distances OTM. You may receive a credit on long combos or pay a debit on short combos.
Execute as Spread Order
Enter both legs as a combo/spread order to ensure simultaneous execution. Specify the net debit or credit you are willing to accept. Do not leg into the trade separately.
- Use "combo" or "custom spread" order type
- Set limit price at desired net debit/credit
- Execute during high liquidity periods
Monitor and Manage
Track the position as the stock moves. The neutral zone provides cushion for small moves. If the stock approaches a strike, decide whether to close, roll, or let it continue.
- Delta increases as stock moves toward either strike
- Watch for early assignment on short leg if ITM
- Roll before expiration if maintaining the view
Margin Requirements
The short option leg requires margin. For long combos, the short put is cash-secured or margined. For short combos, the short call has unlimited risk and requires significant margin unless covered by stock.
Helpful Tools & Resources
Strategy Variations
Explore different ways to implement this strategy, each with its own trade-offs and benefits.
Zero-Cost Collar
Risk reversal with stock ownership. Long stock + long put + short call. Hedges downside, caps upside.
Seagull
Risk reversal + additional OTM option for tail protection. Three-legged structure.
Jade Lizard
Short put + short call spread. Collects premium with defined upside risk.
1x2 Risk Reversal
Sell 2 puts, buy 1 call. Extra short put increases credit but adds downside risk.
Risks & Limitations
Short combo has unlimited loss if stock rises sharply. Same risk as short stock.
Long combo loses K₂ + H if stock goes to zero. Significant downside exposure.
Short option may be assigned early, especially around dividends.
Changes in put-call skew affect position value even if stock price unchanged.
If stock stays in neutral zone, time decay erodes both legs toward expiration.
References
- Bollen, N. P. B., & Whaley, R. E. (2004). Does Net Buying Pressure Affect the Shape of Implied Volatility Functions?. Journal of Finance, 59(2), 711-753 [Link]
- Carr, P., & Wu, L. (2009). Variance Risk Premiums. Review of Financial Studies, 22(3), 1311-1341 [Link]
- Xing, Y., Zhang, X., & Zhao, R. (2010). What Does the Individual Option Volatility Smirk Tell Us About Future Equity Returns?. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 45(3), 641-662 [Link]
- Rehman, Z., & Vilkov, G. (2012). Risk-Neutral Skewness: Return Predictability and Its Sources. Working Paper [Link]
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