EK (Closed Early)

So EK went deep in the money about two weeks before expiration last month and so I had a decision to make:
Do I hold for my planned gain for another week or two or do I get out now and find a new place for my money?
I decided to close at a near maximum gain.

Here are the numbers:
On 8/13 (Expiration was 8/24)
Sold 400 shares at 4.49. Total value of 1791.00 (4.95 commission and 0.05 SEC fee)
Bought to Close 4 contracts EK HR at 1.52 for a total debit of 615.55 (7.55 commission)

Total at close: 1175.45

You will recall from the earlier post the maximum value at expiration was 1195 (using the SEC fee of 0.05 plus the 4.95 commission.)
So it cost me $20 extra to close 11 days early. Well worth it if I can find another place for the money for those 11 days that will make more that $20. (Where it went will be listed in a new blog post that I should post this weekend.)

In review:
I started by investing 1096.51 to open this position on 7/21.
On 8/13 I closed the position for 1175.45.
Total gain was 1175.45 - 1096.51 = 78.94.
Return for the position = 7.199% in 23 days. (78.94/1096.51)
Annualized return = 114.248% ((7.199% / 23 Days) * 365 Days)

Not to shabby!

EK

OK, so I promised some real trades, and so here we go:

EK (Eastman Kodak)
Entry Date 7/21/2009

Purchased:
400 Shares of EK at $3.09 (Commission $4.95)
Sold:
4 contracts EK HR (Kodak Aug. 2009 Call $3 strike) at $0.38 (Commission $7.55 +$0.01 SEC Fee)

The totals are therefore:
$1240.95 (Stock)
$144.44 (Option)

$1096.51 to open position (or $2.72 per share)

Goal is for EK to close Aug 22nd at or above $3.01 per share.
($3.00 even is an interesting scenario that I will perhaps get into on a later post.)
Assuming that happens (and as I write this EK closed at 3.83) I would sell for:
1195.02 (assuming a $4.95 commission and a $0.03 SEC charge)

For a total gain of $98.51 on $1096.51 invested, or a one month gain of 8.9%
Once again, I am giving up upside potential for a high probability of gain.

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