Trading options on low-priced stocks presents unique challenges that higher-priced equities don't face. When you're working with stocks trading at $3.16 like GRAB in this example, seemingly small factors—like nickel increment pricing and weekly premium availability—can dramatically impact whether a trade is worth executing.
This analysis walks through the real-world decision-making process when evaluating options on lower-priced stocks, including how to spot when weekly expirations don't offer sufficient premium and when extending to longer-dated options makes strategic sense—even if it violates your typical preference for weekly cycles.
Understanding why traders get involved with lower-priced stocks in the first place provides important context. As noted in the analysis, the original methodology focused on:
This approach makes sense for newer option sellers. A $300 cash-secured put collateral requirement is far more accessible than committing $5,000+ for higher-priced stocks. The percentage returns can be compelling—a $10 premium on a $300 strike represents a 3.3% return, which would require $333 in premium on a $10,000 position to match.
However, as traders gain experience and capital, the limitations of low-priced stocks become apparent, particularly around liquidity, premium availability, and pricing increment restrictions.
One of the most frustrating aspects of trading options on low-priced stocks is the nickel increment pricing structure. While higher-priced stocks often trade in penny increments (allowing premiums like $0.47 or $1.23), many lower-priced stocks are restricted to five-cent increments.
This creates a critical problem visible in the GRAB analysis: the Thanksgiving week expiration showed zero premium available for the cash-secured put. Not because there's no interest—but because the premium wasn't quite worth $0.05, so it rounds down to zero.
When options can only be priced in $0.05 increments, you lose granularity. Consider these scenarios:
As observed in the video: "I guess you could actually put a trade in there to see if it would trade at a nickel." This highlights the uncertainty—you don't know if a $0.05 order will fill when fair value is closer to $0.02-0.03.
Most dedicated option sellers prefer weekly expirations because they capture maximum time decay in the final week before expiration. However, the GRAB example demonstrates when this preference must be reconsidered.
The first weekly expiration (Thanksgiving week) offered $0 in premium. The next week out offered $10 in premium on a $300 collateral requirement—a compelling 3.3% return for roughly 10-14 days of exposure.
The trader's thought process reveals the critical decision points:
This is disciplined flexibility—sticking to principles (preferring weekly options) while remaining pragmatic when the math clearly justifies an exception.
Successful option sellers have principles (prefer weekly expirations for time decay) but not rigid rules (never go beyond one week). When the premium difference is stark—$0 vs. $10 in this case—extending the expiration is the smart play.
An important element of this analysis was the conservative position sizing: "I'm putting up $300 collateral per contract. So I am going to play it a little safe."
This caution is appropriate for several reasons:
The trader noted: "I might come back and add to it." This incremental approach is smart risk management:
Let's break down the actual return profile to understand why extending the expiration made sense:
Even if the two-week option only represents a 3.33% return over 10-14 days (instead of 7 days for a weekly), it's infinitely better than 0% return. The annualized math still looks compelling.
This highlights an important principle: absolute return matters more than theoretical time decay curves. While weekly options have the steepest decay, they're worthless if there's no premium to collect.
The GRAB analysis provides a masterclass in when lower-priced stocks make sense and when they become more trouble than they're worth.
A low stock price doesn't necessarily mean "cheap" or "value." Some stocks trade at low prices because the business is struggling, faces existential threats, or operates in declining industries. Always evaluate the fundamental business quality, not just the attractive option premiums.
When you're selling puts on multiple low-priced stocks—each with small collateral requirements but adding up across your portfolio—tracking becomes critical. You might have 10 different positions, each requiring $300-500 in collateral, totaling $3,000-5,000 in committed capital.
MyATMM's portfolio tracking gives you instant visibility into:
This portfolio-wide view is especially important with lower-priced stocks, where the smaller per-position capital can create a false sense of limited risk. If you get assigned on five $300 positions simultaneously, you're suddenly deploying $1,500+ in capital that may have been earmarked elsewhere.
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Based on this analysis, here are actionable strategies for successfully trading options on lower-priced stocks:
Don't assume the nearest weekly will have the best return. Look at 1-week, 2-week, and monthly expirations to see where premium quality is best. Sometimes an extra week doubles or triples your premium.
If the premium shows $0.00, try placing an order at $0.05 as a limit order (not market). You might get filled if there's any interest. But don't chase—if it doesn't fill quickly, the true value is probably closer to zero.
Begin with 1-2 contracts to test liquidity and price action. If the position behaves well and you can manage it effectively, consider adding more contracts on the next cycle.
Cap your total exposure to lower-priced stocks at 20-30% of your option portfolio. The higher volatility and liquidity risks warrant diversification into higher-quality names.
Before entering, know how you'll exit if assigned. With lower liquidity, covered call premiums might be equally unattractive, leaving you stuck holding shares longer than intended.
The GRAB options analysis demonstrates a critical skill in successful option trading: maintaining a strategic framework while remaining flexible when circumstances warrant deviation. The preference for weekly options is sound—maximum time decay, frequent capital recycling, reduced exposure duration. But when weekly options offer zero premium and the two-week option offers 3.3% return, flexibility wins.
Lower-priced stocks can be excellent vehicles for option income, particularly for traders with limited capital or those building experience. However, the nickel increment pricing, liquidity constraints, and premium availability challenges require extra diligence and realistic expectations.
The most important lesson: evaluate each trade on its individual merit. Don't force trades just because you prefer weekly expirations, and don't avoid opportunities just because they don't fit your typical pattern. Let the math guide the decision.
Options trading involves risk and is not suitable for all investors. Trading options on low-priced stocks carries additional risks including higher volatility, lower liquidity, and potential business quality concerns. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This content is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
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