216 Part II: Call Option Strategies 
In Chapter 6 on ratio writing, it was seen that it was possible to alter the ratio 
to adjust the position to one's outlook for the underlying stock The altering of the 
ratio in a ratio spread accomplishes the same objective. In fact, as will be pointed out 
later in the chapter, the ratio may be adjusted continuously to achieve what is con­
sidered to be a "neutral spread." A similar tactic, using the option's delta, was 
described for ratio writes. 
The following formulae allow one to determine the maximum profit potential 
and upside break~even point for any ratio: 
Points of maximum = Net credit+ Number oflong calls x 
profit Difference in striking prices or 
= Number of long calls X Difference in 
striking prices - Net debit 
Upside break-even = Points of maximum profit ff h t "ki . 
point Number of naked calls + ig er s n ng pnce 
These formulae can easily be verified by checking the numbers in Table 11-3. 
THE "DELTA SPREAD" 
The third philosophy of ratio spreading is a more sophisticated approach that is often 
referred to as the delta spread, because the deltas of the options are used to estab­
lish and monitor the spread. Recall that the delta of a call option is the amount by 
which the option is expected to increase in price if the underlying stock should rise 
by one point. Delta spreads are neutral spreads in that one uses the deltas of the two 
calls to set up a position that is initially neutral. 
Example: The deltas of the two calls that appeared in the previous examples were 
.80 and .50 for the April 40 and April 45, respectively. If one were to buy 5 of the 
April 40's and simultaneously sell 8 of the April 45's, he would have a delta-neutral 
spread. That is, if XYZ moved up by one point, the 5 April 40 calls would appreciate 
by .80 point each, for a net gain of 4 points. Similarly, the 8 April 45 calls that he is 
short would each appreciate by .50 point for a net loss of 4 points on the short side. 
Thus, the spread is initially neutral - the long side and the short side will offset each 
other. The idea of setting up this type of neutral spread is to be able to capture the 
time value premium decay in the preponderance of short calls without subjecting the 
spread to an inordinate amount of market risk. The actual credit or debit of the 
spread is not a determining factor.