Author: Scott Bauer
How A Vertical Call Spread Helped Scott Play A Post-Earnings Rebound
I recently closed a winning live trade signal in Arista Networks Inc. (ANET). The trade ran over the course of a few days, and I set it up using one of my favorite options strategies. I’ll walk you through how the trade unfolded, what the final results showed, and the options strategy I used to…
Understanding Vega Risk: Are You Exposed?
Most options traders know Delta. Some know Theta. There’s one Greek that quietly erodes your position, often before you even realize what happened. It’s called Vega, and if you’re not paying attention to it, you could be trading with a blind spot. What Vega Actually Is: Vega measures how much the price of an option…
Buying Puts vs Selling Calls: What’s The Difference?
When traders expect a stock to drop, options give them more than one way to potentially profit from that move. Two of the most common bearish options strategies traders use in these situations are buying puts and selling calls. When presented with both options, some traders might ask: “If they’re both bearish options trades, aren’t…
Q1 Earnings Season Preview: What To Expect
As we start a brand new quarter in 2026, it also resets the earnings cycle for companies to report their quarterly results — and I believe that Q1 Earnings Season could have a lot in store. Q4 earnings season at the start of the year gave traders a lot to process. It also set the…
March 2026 Jobs Report: The Good, Bad, & Unexpected
The March 2026 Jobs Report was among the most anticipated ones in recent memory. Right now, the economy is being shaped by a number of factors: These current circumstances — combined with February’s bad jobs report — had traders preparing for the worst. Fortunately, the March 2026 Jobs Report looked much better than expected…at least…
3 Clean Energy Stocks To Consider Watching
On February 28, 2026, the energy world changed overnight when U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iran. Strait Of Hormuz (Circled Red) – Google Maps: The conflict triggered an immediate crisis in the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow Persian Gulf chokepoint, where roughly 20% of the world’s daily crude oil flows. The…
Why Option Premiums Rise Before Binary Events
Ever wonder why option premiums rise before binary events in the stock market? It’s not uncommon for option prices to spike ahead of major announcements like: For context, I like to describe option premium as the difference between the contract’s price and intrinsic value. It’s essentially what buyers pay for the “hope” that an option…
The Delta Greek: How To Measure Option Premium
When the markets move, the Delta Greek can be one of the most valuable metrics to options traders. There’s a particular correlation between the Delta Greek and options premium that can help traders find out how much the price of an option is expected to change. From my personal experience, I believe this pattern can…
Credit Card Interest Rate Caps: What Traders Could Expect
A high-profile policy debate has re-entered the financial spotlight surrounding credit card interest rate caps. Last week, President Donald Trump called for a temporary national cap on credit card interest rates. He proposed a maximum annual rate of 10% over a one-year period, starting January 20, 2026. President Trump’s proposal would aim to combat the…
Venezuela Crisis Stock Market Impact: 3 Major Reactions
All eyes are on Venezuela, as it attempts to navigate an unfolding crisis, following the capture of its president by U.S. military forces. The situation is being closely monitored both domestically and abroad, whose effects are being felt worldwide—including the stock market. Crisis Impact On The Stock Market: In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s U.S.…