Covered Call Calculator

Model your premium income before you enter the trade.

A covered call calculator helps you understand the effective yield, breakeven, and outcomes of a covered call before you commit. Wall St Yardie combines this with fair value so you know whether the strike makes sense for the business, not just the premium.

Model a Covered Call in the App

How a Covered Call Works

You sell a call option against shares you already own. The buyer pays you a premium for the right to purchase your shares at the strike price before expiration.

If the stock stays below the strike

  • Option expires worthless
  • You keep the full premium
  • You still own all your shares
  • You can sell another call next cycle

If the stock rises above the strike

  • Option is exercised (assigned)
  • You sell 100 shares at the strike price
  • You keep the premium you collected
  • You miss gains above the strike price

Key Metrics to Calculate

A covered call calculator should give you these numbers before you enter any trade.

Premium Income

The total premium collected when you sell the call. Equals the option premium × 100 shares per contract. This is your guaranteed income if the option expires worthless.

Premium × 100

Premium Yield

The percentage return earned on your stock position from the premium alone. Annualised premium yield helps you compare covered calls across different stocks and strike prices.

Premium / Cost Basis
× 100

Breakeven Price

The stock price at which you neither gain nor lose on the overall position at expiration. Equals your cost basis minus the premium received.

Cost Basis − Premium

Maximum Return if Assigned

Total profit if the stock rises above the strike and your shares are called away. Equals the gain from the stock (strike minus cost basis) plus the premium collected.

(Strike − Cost Basis)
+ Premium

Example: Covered Call on XYZ

Cost Basis
$85
Call Strike
$95
Premium
$1.50
Days to Expiry
45
Premium Income
$150
Premium Yield
1.76%
14.3% annualised
Breakeven
$83.50
Max Return
$1,150
if assigned at $95

Example for illustrative purposes only. Fair value of the underlying is not reflected here; always model against your valuation first.

Model the Trade Before You Place It

Wall St Yardie helps you understand the fair value of the underlying before you choose a strike, so your covered calls are anchored in fundamentals.

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