Understanding Returns

Understanding Returns
Call Option
Let's take the following call option and use it as our example: 
PodCall WETH:USDC 700 Dec 31st
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Description
underlying asset
WETH
strike asset
USDC
option type
Call
exercise type
European
strike price
$700
spot price
$500
expiration
31 Dec 2020
current day
21 Nov 2020
premium
$20
In this example, the contract refers to a call option for WETH:USDC that can be exercised only at expiration on the 31 Dec 2020 as it is a European option with a strike price of $700, where the options market price, also called as premium, is $20. In other words, this option buyer paid $20 to have the option to buy the WETH for $700 from the option seller, who has an obligation to sell the underlying asset, once the option is exercised, regardless of the spot price the asset at the expiration. 
The following scenarios could happen:
1) WETH Spot price on the 31 Dec 2020 = $900
In this case, it would be profitable for the option buyer to exercise the call option as the asset would be sold for $200 discount from the prices in the market. In this situation, the option is in-the-money (ITM).  Once exercising the option, the option buyer would have had the following (simplified) profit:
Profit = Spot price - Strike price - Premium 
Profit = 900 - 700 - 20 
Profit = $180 
The same would happen to any spot price above the strike price + premium. 
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2) WETH Spot price on the 31 Dec 2020 = $500
In this case, it doesn't make sense for the option buyer to exercise his option as it is possible to buy the underlying asset (WETH) for a cheaper price in the market. In this situation, we say that the option is out-of-the-money (OTM). As the option buyer paid the premium, we can say that he had a loss limited to the option's price, which is $20. 
Loss = - $20
Conclusion
It is possible to see that for call options, the loss is limited to the premium, and the profit is unlimited as the price of the underlying asset increases, as shown in the graph below:
Put Option
Let's take the following call option and use it as our example: 
PodPut WETH:USDC 400 Dec 31st
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Description
underlying asset
WETH
strike asset
aUSDC
option type
Put
exercise type
 European
strike price
$400
spot price
$500
expiration
31 Dec 2020
current day
21 Nov 2020
premium
$30
In this example, the contract refers to a put option for WETH:USDC that can be exercised only at expiration on the 31 Dec 2020 as it is a European option with a strike price of $400, where the options market price, also called as premium, is $30. In other words, this option buyer paid $30 to have the option to sell the WETH for $400 to the option seller, who has an obligation to buy the underlying asset, once the option is exercised, regardless of the spot price the asset at the expiration. 
The following scenarios could happen:
1) WETH Spot price on the 31 Dec 2020 = $300
In this case, it would be profitable for the option buyer to exercise the put option as the asset would be sold for $100 more than the current price in the market. In this situation, the option is in-the-money (ITM).  Once exercising the option, the option buyer would have had the following (simplified) profit:
Profit = Strike price - Spot Price - Premium 
Profit = 400 - 300 - 30 
Profit = $70
The same would happen to scenarios where the spot price is below the strike price until the asset's price reaches 0.
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2) WETH Spot price on the 31 Dec 2020 = $600
In this case, it doesn't make sense for the option buyer to exercise the option as it is possible to sell the underlying asset (WETH) for a higher price in the market. In this situation, we say that the option is out-of-the-money (OTM). As the option buyer paid the premium, we can say that he had a loss limited to the option's price, which is $30. 
Loss = premium 
Loss = - $30
Conclusion
It is possible to see that for put options, the loss is limited to the premium, and the profit is restricted/limited until the spot price of the underlying asset decreases until zero, as we can see in the graph below:
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Contents

Understanding Returns

Call Option

Put Option

Understanding Returns

Call Option

1) WETH Spot price on the 31 Dec 2020 = $900

2) WETH Spot price on the 31 Dec 2020 = $500

Put Option

1) WETH Spot price on the 31 Dec 2020 = $300

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2) WETH Spot price on the 31 Dec 2020 = $600

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