Workspace / Research tools
Options payoffs

Long Risk Reversal Expiry Payoff Calculator

Model the explicitly defined direction of buying a higher-strike call and selling a lower-strike put without owning the underlying. This long risk reversal may start with a debit, zero net premium or a credit depending on the quotes. The calculator exposes the downside obligation created by the sold put instead of treating a small upfront payment as a measure of maximum risk.

Enable JavaScript to edit assumptions, calculate and compare a baseline locally. The formula and methodology below remain available without JavaScript.

Model and input conventions

The signed intrinsic payoff is max(terminal price − call strike, 0) minus max(put strike − terminal price, 0). Net premium paid equals the call payment less the put receipt. Scale the resulting amount by underlying units and deduct fixed costs. The put strike must be lower than the call strike, with both options sharing one expiry, underlying and quote-currency settlement convention.

Worked numerical example

Buy a 110 call for 4 and sell a 90 put for 5. The package receives a net credit of 1. With one unit and no costs, P&L is +1 between the strikes, break-even is 89, and an expiry at zero loses 89. At a price of 120, the call earns ten intrinsic points and total P&L is +11. Upside has no finite ceiling in the nonnegative-price model.

Read the scenario table

The table separates the negative put payoff below its strike from the positive call payoff above its strike. With exactly offsetting premiums and zero fees, the middle interval has zero P&L; the calculator identifies that plateau instead of inventing a unique break-even. When comparing this position with a collar, remember that this strategy has no long underlying asset and uses the opposite option directions.

Where the model stops

The term risk reversal can also describe a volatility-skew quotation; this tool calculates a position payoff rather than that quotation. It models European-style terminal cash settlement only. Short-put collateral, early assignment, funding and liquidation are excluded, and can matter well before expiry. The premium credit does not remove an obligation to fund the sold put or establish that the position is inexpensive relative to its risk.

Primary documentation

Your research workspace

Save selected inputs and research notes explicitly in this browser. Compare assumptions and restore a saved setup without submitting a trade. JavaScript enables the controls.

Find a tool or research page