Option value

This is an introductory page in Options. If you are unfamiliar with any of the terms, you can refer to the Options Glossary.

The option value is estimated through a predictive formula like Black Scholes or through a numerical method like Binomial Tree model. This price can often be interpreted as the expected value of the option on expiration, given the information in the market.

The value of an option can be divided into 2 parts:
- Intrinsic Value: The value of exercising an in the money option.
- Extrinsic (Time) Value The value of the price insurance obtained from the right to exercise (or not exercise) the option. This is always non-negative.

For American options, the intrinsic value is easily calculated, as the expected profit from (smartly) exercising the option.

Let's say we have a call option. When the stock price $S$ is greater than the strike price $X$, then we can buy the stock at $X$ through exercising the call and sell the stock at $S$ in the market. This gives us an intrinsic value of $S - X$. When the stock price $S$ is lower then the strike price $X$, then we would choose to not exercise the call option, hence it has an intrinsic value of 0. Thus,

$$\text{Intrinsic value of Call} = \max( S - X , 0 ).$$

We can perform a similar analysis for the put option. When the stock price $S$ is lower than the strike price $X$, then exercising the put will allow us to buy the stock at $S$ and sell the stock at $X$ through exercising. This gives us an intrinsic value of $X - S$. When the stock price $S$ is higher than the strike price $X$, then we would choose to not exercise the put option, hence it has an intrinsic value of 0. Thus,

$$\text{Intrinsic value of Put} = \max( X-S , 0 ).$$

For European options, because they can only be exercised on expiry, the intrinsic value of the option is calculated on the future price, which would include any dividends that are to be paid out.

For example, if the stock is worth $30, we would typically expect the call option on the $25 strike to be worth at least $5, reflecting the intrinsic value. However, if the stock will be paying a dividend of $3 before expiry, then the future value of the stock is only $\$ 30 - \$3 = \$ 27$ (and account for interest), and thus the option could be trading for less than $5.

As such, we have

$$\text{Intrinsic value of Call} = \max( F - X , 0 ).$$

$$\text{Intrinsic value of Put} = \max( X-F , 0 ).$$

The time value of an option is the difference between the Option value and the Intrinsic Value.

$$\text{Time value} = \text{ Option value } - \text{ Intrinsic value}$$

Note that this is always non-negative, as it reflects the right (but not obligation) to perform at trade at the strike price.

For European options with no possibility of early exercise, the time value of the put and call on the same strike and expiry are the same.

For American options, the time value of the put and the call could be slightly different, to reflect the early exercise premium. For example, a deep-in-the-money call that will be early exercised may be trading at intrinsic value (and thus has no time value), while the put could be trading way above $0. Having said that, for options that are close to at-the-money or are expiring soon, the calls and puts will have the same time value.