Pay-off Diagram

A 'pay-off diagram below represents the effective pay-off of a long put position of an option at the time of the expiry date. It looks at the option from the point of view of buyer.

• The X-axis in a pay-off diagram represents a range of possible share prices.
• The Y-axis in a pay-off diagram represents the profit or loss that can be realized at the time of expiration.
• The strike price represent the upfront agreed price for the option.

This image reflects all option types in one diagram:

Buying a call

Buying a call buys you the right to buy a stock at expiration for the exercise price. It costs you immediate money. You win than money back if the stock price at exercize is higher than the strike price. If it is lower, you lost the money you invested in the call.

Writing a call

By writing a call you promise to your buyer you will sell the stock at expiration for the exercise price. Writing a call gets you immediate money. You cannot loose money by writing a call but if the stock price is much higher than the exercise price at expiration, it will feel like it...

Buying a put

If you buy a put you buy the right but not the obligation to sell stock at the agreed exercise price.

Writing a put

By writing a put you promise to buy stock at the exercise price. Writing a put gets you immediate money. But you risk loosing that money and much more (up to the full amount of the stock price) if the stock price turns out to be lower than the strike price. You can risk that you need to

Option	Buy (cost you money)	Write or sell (gets you immediate money)
Call	A right to buy stock yourself at a later moment	Obligation to sell your stock for the agreed price
Put	A right to sell stock for an agreed price at a alter moment	Obligation to buy stock for the agreed price