Initial Transaction - Linear Technology Corporation (LLTC)

This is a new position in Linear Technology Corporation. It is part of my Short-Term Ex-Dividend Strategy (STEX). The stock pays a dividend in February, with an ex-dividend date of February 10, 2010. The new profit/loss info is below:

2/1/2010 -- Bought 100 LLTC @ 26.88
2/1/2010 -- Sold To Open 1 LLTC February $27 Call @ 0.51


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $2637.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $2


Downside Coverage (from current price of $26.88): 1.90%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Ex-Dividend Date (2/10/2010): 116.78%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Expiration (2/20/2010): 71.68%

Initial Transaction - Coinstar (CSTR)

Today I decided to open a cash-secured put position in Coinstar (CSTR). The profit/loss info is below:

2/1/2010 -- Sold To Open 1 CSTR February $25.00 Put @ 0.9899

The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Cost Basis: N/A

Potential Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 3.96%

Potential Annualized Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 30.75%

Initial Transaction - Intel (INTC)

This is a new position in Intel. It is part of my Short-Term Ex-Dividend Strategy (STEX). The stock pays a dividend in February, with an ex-dividend date of February 3, 2010. The new profit/loss info is below:

1/29/2010 -- Bought 100 INTC @ 19.527
1/29/2010 -- Sold To Open 1 INTC February $19 Call @ 0.73


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $1879.70
Commissions (Included In Cost): $2


Downside Coverage (from current price of $19.527): 3.74%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Ex-Dividend Date (2/3/2010): 26.48%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Expiration (2/20/2010): 21.72%

Initial Transaction - J.C. Penney (JCP)

This is a new position in J.C. Penney. The new profit/loss info is below:

1/20/2010 -- Bought 100 JCP @ 25.86
1/20/2010 -- Sold To Open 1 JCP February $26 Call @ 1.04


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $2482.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $2


Downside Coverage (from current price of $25.86): 4.50%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Expiration (2/20/2010): 52.98%

Initial Transaction - Texas Instruments (TXN)

This is a new position in Texas Instruments. The company recently pre-announced earnings above expectations, in addition to having an ex-dividend date over the next month. Thus I consider there to be a low level of risk from the earnings announcement in the next few weeks. This is also my first position using Interactive Brokers, which I am slowly moving all my positions to. Thanks to "the options guru" (http://theoptionguru.com/blog/) who has videos on his blog with instructions on how to use IB (as it is a bit less user-friendly as other brokers). The nice thing is that trades only cost $1. Which means I save 80% of my commissions on every trade vs. what I have been paying. Based on the number of trades I placed in 2009, just by switching commissions I can increase my return by about 5-8% a year (thats a big deal obviously). The new profit/loss info is below:

1/20/2010 -- Bought 100 TXN @ 24.36
1/20/2010 -- Sold To Open 1 TXN February $24 Call @ 1.03


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $2333.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $2


Downside Coverage (from current price of $24.36): 4.23%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Expiration (2/20/2010): 32.38%

Initial Transaction - Multi-Fineline Electronix (MFLX)

Today I decided to open a cash-secured put position in Multi-Fineline Electronix (MFLX). The profit/loss info is below:

1/15/2010 -- Sold To Open 1 MFLX February $25.00 Put @ 1.2324

The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Cost Basis: N/A

Potential Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 4.93%

Potential Annualized Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 49.98%

Initial Transaction - Arkansas Best Corp. (ABFS)

Today I decided to open a cash-secured put position in Arkansas Best Corporation (ABFS). The profit/loss info is below:

1/11/2010 -- Sold To Open 1 ABFS February $27.50 Put @ 1.6824

The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Cost Basis: N/A

Potential Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 6.12%

Potential Annualized Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 55.83%

Initial Transaction - Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD)

I'm a strong believer in investing what you know, and one thing I know from going up in Buffalo, NY is that everyone loves Buffalo wings. So I decided to put my money where my mouth is (no pun intended) and invest in B Dubya 3's (i.e. BWLD). The new profit/loss info is below:

1/7/2009 -- Bought 100 BWLD @ 39.65
1/7/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 BWLD February $40 Call @ 2.06


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $3759.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $6.75


Downside Coverage (from current price of $39.65): 5.2%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Expiration (2/20/2010): 47.91%

Initial Transaction - Juniper Networks (JNPR)

Today I decided to open a cash-secured put position in Juniper Networks (JNPR). The profit/loss info is below:

1/7/2010 -- Sold To Open 1 JNPR February $24 Put @ 0.7124

The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Cost Basis: N/A

Potential Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 2.97%

Potential Annualized Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 24.62%

Initial Transaction - Abbott Labs (ABT)

Today I opened a new position in Abbott Labs. This position will fall into my 10-20% return category, and is also part of the Long-Term Ex-Dividend strategy (LTEX) which utilizes ex-dividend dates as possible exit points for the position. The new profit/loss info is below:

1/4/2009 -- Bought 100 ABT @ 54.22
1/4/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 ABT May $52.50 Call @ 3.35


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $5087.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $5


Downside Coverage (from current price of $54.22): 6.2%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At First Ex-Div. Date (1/13/2010): 125.96%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Second Ex-Div. Date (4/13/2010): 14.71%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Expiration (5/22/2010): 12.63%

Initial Transaction - Verizon (VZ)

This is a second position in Verizon to take advantage of an upcoming ex-dividend date. The new profit/loss info is below:

12/24/2009 -- Bought 100 VZ @ 33.3599
12/24/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 VZ April $32 Call @ 1.81


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $3154.99
Commissions (Included In Cost): $5


Downside Coverage (from current price of $33.3599): 5.43%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At First Ex-Div. Date (1/7/2010): 38.57%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Second Ex-Div. Date (4/7/2010): 10.29%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Expiration (4/17/2010): 14.21%

Initial Transaction - Discover Financial Services (DFS)

This is a new position being established in Discover Financial Services, a credit card company. It also currently yields about 0.5%. The profit/loss info is below:

12/23/2009 -- Bought 100 DFS @ 14.81
12/23/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 DFS January $15 Call @ 0.45


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $1436.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $0

Downside Coverage (from current price of $14.81): 3.03%

Possible Max Upside: 3.60%

Annualized Max Upside: 54.75%

Initial Transaction - The Buckle (BKE)

This is a new position being established in The Buckle, a retailer which focuses on denim apparel. It also currently yields about 2.73%. The profit/loss info is below:

12/23/2009 -- Bought 100 BKE @ 29.41
12/23/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 BKE January $30 Call @ 0.75


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $2866.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $5

Downside Coverage (from current price of $29.41): 2.55%

Possible Max Upside: 4.13%

Annualized Max Upside: 62.86%

Initial Transaction - Suncor Energy (SU)

This is a new position being established in Suncor Energy, a Canadian company which focuses on developing the Athabasca oil sands. It also currently yields about 1%. The profit/loss info is below:

12/22/2009 -- Bought 100 SU @ 33.92
12/22/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 SU January $34 Call @ 1.0924


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $3282.76
Commissions (Included In Cost): $0.76

Downside Coverage (from current price of $33.92): 3.2%

Possible Max Upside: 3.15%

Annualized Max Upside: 46.05%

Initial Transaction - Direxion 3x Small Cap Bear (TZA)

I think the market may be reaching a short-term top, so I decided to hedge a little and sell a put on an ETF which returns 3x the inverse of the Russell 2000. The profit/loss info is below:

12/8/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 TZA January $10 Put @ 0.4824

The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Cost Basis: N/A

Potential Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 4.82%

Potential Annualized Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 45.15%

Initial Transaction - Marathon Oil (MRO)

This is a new position being established in Marathon Oil, an integrated oil/gas company which currently yields a bit higher than 3%. The profit/loss info is below:

11/30/2009 -- Bought 100 MRO @ 32.64
11/30/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 MRO December $33 Call @ 0.71


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $3193.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $5


Downside Coverage (from current price of $32.64): 2.2%
Possible Max Upside: 3.09%

Annualized Max Upside: 59.38%

Initial Transaction - Life Partners Holdings (LPHI)

Today I decided to open a cash-secured put position in the Life Partners Holdings (LPHI), a company which I have been investing in for quite a few months now. The profit/loss info is below:

11/30/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 LPHI January $17.25 Put @ 1.1324

The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Cost Basis: N/A

Potential Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 6.56%

Potential Annualized Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 50.98%

Initial Transaction - iShares MSCI South Korea Index (EWY)

Today I decided to open a cash-secured put position in the iShares South Korea Index which tracks the South Korean stock market. The profit/loss info is below:

11/30/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 EWY December $43 Put @ 0.8824

The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Cost Basis: N/A

Potential Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 2.05%
Potential Annualized Gain If Not Assigned At Expiration: 39.42%

Initial Transaction - United States Natural Gas (UNG)

I decided to open another covered call position in UNG, as I believe it has reached a near-term bottom around $8.80. Natural gas prices have been further depressed recently due to the continuing high storage levels as well as the relatively warm fall that the US has been experiencing. As such I think the risk/reward for this position is good. The profit/loss info is below:

11/19/2009 -- Bought 100 UNG @ 8.83
11/19/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 UNG December $9 Call @ 0.38


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $845.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $5


Downside Coverage (from current price of $8.83): 4.3%
Possible Max Upside: 5.56%

Annualized Max Upside: 67.59%

Initial Transaction - New York Community Bancorp (NYB)

This position was established as another Long-Term Ex-Dividend (LTEX) position in the CCIP. New York Community Bancorp is a regional bank based in New York which mainly provides mortgages to multi-family dwellings. It has a very low default rate and has consistently paid a dividend (currently at 8.87%). The stock has been stuck between $10 and $12 since the market lows in March. I decided to establish a long-term covered call position including one possible pre-expiration exercise date in February. The new profit/loss info is below:

11/16/2009 -- Bought 100 NYB @ 11.48
11/16/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 NYB April $12 Call @ 0.55


The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Stock Purchase Cost: $1093.00
Commissions (Included In Cost): $5


Downside Coverage (from current price of $11.48): 4.8%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At First Ex-Div. Date (2/4/2010): 38.78%

Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Expiration (4/17/2010): 27.90%