Blog Archive: July 2026
Using Bear Call Spreads to Offset Losses on a Troubled NFLX Put Position
Options trades do not always follow the original plan.In May 2026, I opened a position in Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) by selling put credit spreads. The initial idea was straightforward: collect option premium while keeping the maximum loss defined through long protective puts.As NFLX weakened and the original spreads came under pressure, I changed the structure. I removed the protective legs and converted the position into what I considered a cash-secured put strategy. That increased the premium collected and gave the trade more time, but it also materially increased the downside exposure.Following Netflix’s July 2026 earnings report, NFLX shares fell sharply. The stock closed July 17 at…
Week 67 / $147.60 in Weekly Options Premium Despite Netflix’s 10% Earnings Drop
As of July 17, 2026, our stock portfolio closed at $12,691, loosing -1.24% week over week. The loss came after Netflix’s earnings report, which sent NFLX shares down roughly 10% at one point. Although we hold only a small position in the stock itself, our longer-dated NFLX put option created a meaningful drag on the overall portfolio.Had NFLX remained flat or reacted positively to the earnings report, the portfolio likely would have crossed the $13,000 mark for the first time. That remains an important milestone—and something to keep working toward.I originally opened the trade as a supplement to our weekly options income, but it has been problematic for the past few months—almost from…
Week 66 / Dividend Stock Portfolio Up 25.79% YTD as I Add BAC and Stora Enso Options
As of July 10, 2026, our dividend stock and options portfolio closed at $12,851, gaining 1.24% week over week.This week, I opened several new positions, despite saying over the past few weeks that I would probably avoid doing so.I reintroduced Bank of America stock to both the stock and options sides of the portfolio. Today, I also opened a new cash-secured put position in the Finnish forestry company Stora Enso.You can read more about my reasoning behind both positions here:Why I Bought Bank of America Stock After Selling a Cash-Secured PutFrom Clearing Bushes to Selling Stora Enso Put Options: An 11.65% Annualized TradeOn a year-to-date basis, the portfolio is up 25.79%, outperforming…
From Clearing Bushes to Selling Stora Enso Put Options: An 11.65% Annualized Trade
Today, after looking over one of our properties in western Latvia, I invited representatives from the local Swedish-owned forestry company Sveaskog Baltfor to estimate the cost of clearing the overgrown bushes from the property.I have no precise idea how much material is there, but my rough estimate is around 100 loose cubic metres of bushes, branches and small trees. In Latvian, I would describe this as approximately 100 berkubi. Because branches contain a lot of empty space, this should not be confused with 100 solid cubic metres of timber.Ādģēri: The 30K Mistake That Turned Into a Long-Term ExperimentThe two guys arrived surprisingly quickly in a huge Volkswagen truck, wearing noticeable…
Why I Bought Bank of America Stock After Selling a Cash-Secured Put
Recently, I added Bank of America stock to our long-term stock portfolio after selling a cash-secured put on BAC.This was not a random trade. I have been selling options and investing with Bank of America stock at least since 2020, and over the years BAC has become one of those names I keep returning to. It is not the most exciting stock in the market, and it will probably never behave like NVIDIA or some fast-growing technology company, but that is exactly part of the reason I like it.Bank of America is a large, established banking stock. It pays a dividend, it has enough volatility to generate options premium, and it can be a decent candidate for covered call writing once shares are owned…
Week 65 / NVDA and NFLX Recovery Help Stock Portfolio Gain 3.02% This Week
As of July 3, 2026, our stock portfolio closed at $12,693, up 3.02% week over week.The U.S. stock market week was shortened, with markets closed on July 3 in observance of the July 4th Independence Day holiday.But for us, the real highlight of the week was not the market. After 16 years and 3 months since I met my better half, we finally got married today in a picturesque church in Western Latvia. It's official now!This was a particularly good week for our stock portfolio, as both NVDA and NFLX recovered somewhat.These are two positions I have been struggling with lately — not so much with NVDA, but definitely more with NFLX. With both tickers gaining some value during the week, the…