The Collar Strategy: Bracketing a Stock Position

A collar combines a covered call (sell call) with a protective put (buy put) on top of a 100-share stock position. The call premium funds part or all of the put premium, creating a bracketed position with capped upside and capped downside.

The zero-cost collar is the classic setup: choose strikes so the call premium equals the put premium, eliminating cash outlay. Result: you give up upside above the call strike in exchange for free downside protection below the put strike. Useful for concentrated positions you want to hold through volatility without paying for hedging.

Variants: the credit collar (call premium exceeds put premium, generating income but giving up more upside) and the debit collar (more put protection bought than call premium received, costing money but tighter downside cap). Choose the variant based on your conviction and downside tolerance — there's no single correct collar, only one that fits the position's risk profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use a collar instead of just a protective put?

When you want hedge protection but don't want to pay for it, and you're willing to give up upside above a chosen ceiling.

Can I roll the collar legs independently?

Yes — most collar managers roll the call up and out as the stock rallies (capturing more upside) while keeping the put at a stable downside floor.

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