NEUTRAL
Calendar Call Spread Strategy Lab
What is a calendar call spread?
A time-decay strategy where you buy a longer-term call and sell a shorter-term call at the same strike.
Profits from the faster time decay of the short option.
Execution Legs:
1
Sell short-term Call (Strike A)
2
Buy long-term Call (Strike A)
NeutralTime DecayLimited Loss
Institutional Playbook & Ideal Timing
🎯 Ideal Timing & Volatility Environment:
Low IV regime with front-month IV lower than back-month IV (contango). Ideal before a known catalyst that occurs in the back-month expiration cycle.
🎯 Strike & DTE Target:
Sell 15–30 DTE front-month, Buy 60–90 DTE back-month at ATM/Key Support.
🛡️ Exit & Risk Rules:
Take profit at 50% of max profit (for credit/neutral) or 100%–200% ROI (for debit). Cut losses at 100% of debit paid (or 2x credit collected). Close before expiration if delta expands beyond 70.
Greeks Sensitivity & Mechanics
⚡ +Vega (Long Vol)
Benefits from IV expansion. Hurt by post-earnings IV crush.
⏳ −Theta (Decay Cost)
Loses premium value every day; needs swift price displacement.
🚀 +Gamma (Convexity)
Profit accelerates as underlying moves further in your direction.
Directional Bias (Δ)
Delta-Neutral (Δ ≈ 0): Directionless; relies on vol or decay.
Interactive Payoff Simulator
Expiration Payoff
Interactive Parameters
Stock Price ($)
$100.00
Days to Expiry (DTE)
30 Days
Lower Strike A ($)
$90.00
Higher Strike B ($)
$110.00
Max Profit
$1000.00
Max Loss
$1000.00
Breakeven
$100.00
Risk / Reward
1 : 1.50
Net Delta (Δ)
+0.05
Net Gamma (Γ)
+0.015
Net Theta (Θ)
-1.80
Net Vega (ν)
+3.50