Sample trade case studies
Each row below is one historical sample wheel cycle: from the first option sold to the position's close. Click a ticker for the cycle's individual option sales. Future sample trade updates may be weekly, biweekly, or monthly as new material is ready — no fixed schedule.
| Ticker | Opened | Closed | Days held | Net gain/loss | Capital at risk | Margin req. | CaR return | CaR annualized | Margin return | Margin annualized |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALK | 12/20/2017 | 11/16/2018 | 331 | $1.23 | $69.85 | $14.50 | 1.76% | 1.94% | 8.48% | 9.35% |
| HPE | 7/13/2018 | 11/16/2018 | 126 | $0.64 | $14.34 | $3.00 | 4.46% | 12.93% | 21.33% | 61.80% |
| SBUX | 12/8/2017 | 12/21/2018 | 378 | $0.91 | $55.95 | $11.50 | 1.63% | 1.57% | 7.91% | 7.64% |
| WBA | 10/9/2018 | 1/18/2019 | 101 | $2.50 | $67.50 | $14.00 | 3.70% | 13.38% | 17.86% | 64.53% |
| IP | 10/26/2018 | 1/18/2019 | 84 | $0.18 | $41.32 | $8.50 | 0.44% | 1.89% | 2.12% | 9.20% |
| XLV | 1/26/2018 | 2/15/2019 | 385 | $0.10 | $88.88 | $18.00 | 0.11% | 0.11% | 0.56% | 0.53% |
Historical sample trade. Prices and dates as recorded; illustrative, not independently audited. Educational only — not verified personal performance, not a recommendation, and not a claim that any order would have filled at these prices. Amounts in this table are per share.
How to read this
- Capital at risk (CaR): the cash securing the position, as recorded for the sample (for these cycles: the first strike minus the first premium received).
- Margin req.: the broker margin requirement recorded for the position. "Margin return" divides the same gain by this smaller amount. It shows capital efficiency in a margin account, and it also shows why margin magnifies risk.
- Annualized: return × 365 ÷ days held (simple, not compounded).
Get the free guide
Download The Wheel, From Put to Payday — a plain-English walkthrough of cash-secured puts, covered calls, assignment, premiums, dividends, return math, risk and common mistakes. Subscribe and we’ll also send future sample trade updates when new ones are published (weekly, biweekly, or monthly as material is ready — no fixed schedule promised).
Free educational emails only. Unsubscribe anytime. Past issues on Buttondown →