Options Trading 101: The Protective Put (Married Put) Strategy Explained

Ever feel like you’re walking a tightrope with your stock portfolio? One wrong move, and your hard-earned gains could vanish. Enter the Protective Put (also known as the Married Put) strategy. It’s like buying insurance for your stocks—peace of mind with a price tag. Let’s break it down and see how it works.


What Is a Protective Put?

A Protective Put is an options strategy where you buy a put option for a stock you already own. Here’s the deal:

  • You own 100 shares of a stock.
  • You buy a put option to protect those shares from a decline.
  • If the stock drops, your put option increases in value, offsetting your losses.
  • If the stock rises, you still benefit from the upside, minus the cost of the put.

It’s like having a safety net under your tightrope.


Why Use a Protective Put?

The Protective Put is perfect for investors who:

  1. Want to Protect Their Gains: You’ve made money on a stock and want to lock in profits.
  2. Are Risk-Averse: You want to limit your downside without selling your shares.
  3. Expect Volatility: You’re worried about short-term market swings but still believe in the stock’s long-term potential.

It’s the “I’m optimistic, but I’m not naive” play.


When to Use a Protective Put

The Protective Put shines in these scenarios:

  • You own a stock that’s risen significantly, and you want to protect your gains.
  • You’re nervous about short-term volatility (e.g., earnings reports, Fed meetings).
  • You’re long-term bullish but want to hedge against a market downturn.

For example, let’s say you own 100 shares of Tesla ($TSLA) at $250, and you’re worried about a potential drop. You could buy a $240 put expiring in 3 months for $5 per share ($500 total). If Tesla drops to $200, your put is worth $40 ($4,000), offsetting your $5,000 loss on the stock. If Tesla rises, you still benefit from the upside, minus the $500 premium.


The Risks of a Protective Put

Let’s keep it real: Protective Puts aren’t free. Here’s the fine print:

  1. Cost of the Put: The premium you pay reduces your overall returns.
  2. Time Decay: The put loses value as it approaches expiration.
  3. Opportunity Cost: If the stock doesn’t drop, you’ve spent money on insurance you didn’t need.

A Real-Life Example

Imagine you own 100 shares of Apple ($AAPL) at $150, and you’re worried about a market correction. You buy a $140 put expiring in 6 months for $4 per share ($400 total). Here’s how it plays out:

  • If AAPL drops to $120: Your put is worth $20 ($2,000), offsetting your $3,000 loss on the stock.
  • If AAPL stays at $150: Your put expires worthless, and you’re out $400.
  • If AAPL rises to $180: You still make $3,000 on the stock, minus the $400 premium.

The key takeaway? You’re paying $400 to protect against a potential $3,000 loss.


Tips for Success

  1. Choose the Right Strike Price: Pick a strike price that reflects your risk tolerance (e.g., 10% below the current price).
  2. Watch Expiration Dates: Longer-term puts are more expensive but provide extended protection.
  3. Use Sparingly: Protective Puts can eat into your returns, so use them only when necessary.