Great Plains Energy Inc (GXP) Stock Option Hedged Dividend Capture
Many companies offer quarterly (or more often) dividends to shareholders. This can be a great source of income and with each dividend payment received; investors are able to lower their risk in an investment. Many investors will buy a stock in part because of the dividend and the current yield. The one basic requirement to receive a dividend from a company is to be a shareholder on the day of record for the dividend.
Great Plains Energy Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the United States. The company also provides steam services in the Missouri area. The company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
Great Plains Energy Inc (NYSE:GXP)
Yield: 4.1%
Dividend Amount: $0.21
Ex-Dividend Date:
Beta: 0.71
Here is a look at the fiscal year revenue. 
I review many call strikes and estimate the expected probabilities based in part on Beta, Bid, Offer, Volume traded the current day, open interest, and time value / implied volatility. Call options offer some protection from possible adverse moves in the stock price and provide offset revenue when the options do not fully cover down moves in the stock. Income is welcomed, but not needed from option premiums, so a break even from option premiums received/stock losses ratio is a win.
I generally hold any given position with a yield of 4.1% and dividend of $0.21 for about 10 days depending on the timing of the option expiration date and the day of the week of the ex-dividend. When learning a new trading strategy it is better to use a simulated trading account first. It is easy to make mistakes when starting out on a new strategy and mistakes cost a lot less with a simulated account. After a level of confidence is built, then it may be time to move into a real money account.Great Plains Energy Inc upcoming stock dividend appears to be attractive and worth the time and effort to capture. A requirement I have is be able to sell a call option in either the front, or first back month that is in the money, and with enough premium that I will not object to an early exercise notice (which does happen from time to time, but profitable if everything is done according to plan).
Strategy:
In combination with my buying Great Plains Energy Inc stock and after checking company updates, offer to sell the March $20.00 strike call for $0.16 over the intrinsic value. The option may get exercised early for a gain. In almost all cases I will sell the call option first to ensure the stock option leg is complete first. If not, after qualifying for the dividend, I will look to close out the covered option with a gain of about $0.04, plus the quarterly dividend paid by the company. It is important to sell the call option hedge at or near the asking price for at least the minimum amount over intrinsic value. I will not want to try putting on the hedge unless the sale of the option (hedge) will provide at least the full $0.16 over intrinsic value. If my shares get called away the day before they trade ex-dividend as a result of the option buyer wanting the dividend I will make about $0.16 Not all that great, but not bad for about a week of owning the stock. The most I can make is $0.37 if I hold the covered call through option expiration day and the stock gets called away.
My last step (completed before making a trade on the same day) is to check company announcements, and news sources for possible events that may cause the stock price to move. This is especially important during earnings season. Learn more about stock options by clicking here.
I use a proprietary blend of technical analysis, financial crowd behavior and fundamentals in my short-term trades, and while not totally the same in longer swing trades to investments, the concepts used are similar. You may want to use this article as a starting point of your own research with your financial planner.
