In Options What Is a Put?

Simply put (pun intended), a put option is a contract that gives the option buyer the right — but not the obligation — to sell a particular underlying security (e.g. a stock or ETF) at a predetermined price, known as the strike price or exercise price, within a specified window of time, or expiration.

Why would you buy a put option?

Why buy a put option? Traders buy a put option to magnify the profit from a stock's decline. For a small upfront cost, a trader can profit from stock prices below the strike price until the option expires. By buying a put, you usually expect the stock price to fall before the option expires.

Is a put the same as a short?

With a short sale, an investor borrows shares from a broker and sells them on the market, hoping the price has decreased so they can buy them back at a lower cost. ... The buyer of a put option can pay a premium to have the right, but not the requirement, to sell a specific number of shares at an agreed-upon strike price.