Home/Blogs/What is the Intrinsic Value of an Option and How to apply the strategy?

What is the Intrinsic Value of an Option and How to apply the strategy?

11 Sep 2023

Every asset has an intrinsic value. For example, in case of an Rs.5 coin, the intrinsic value is the value of the metal in it. This intrinsic value is the embedded value in the asset irrespective of market expectations and government fiat. Similarly, in case of equity shares, the value of the net assets or the present value of the future cash flows can be interpreted as the intrinsic value of the stock. But what is the intrinsic value of option? After all, options are just contracts and represent a right without the obligation to buy or sell an asset for stock market trading. How to calculate the intrinsic value of an option? Above all, how to apply the idea of intrinsic value of option in reality and how it impacts the market price. Let us also understand this intrinsic value versus market value debate.

The Basics of Options and Pricing

An intrinsic value calculator may well give you the answers to the price of stocks in options contracts, but you need to understand some basics of options contracts and their relation to pricing. Basically, the intrinsic value of an option has to do with the way it is priced. Options are contracts that fall within the derivatives segment, and give the holders of such contracts rights to buy (call options) or to sell (put options) any underlying asset that the contract derives its value from. The contract stipulates a predetermined purchase or sale price (strike price) and a date at which this has to be carried out. The contract, thus, has a date of expiry before or at which transactions in the contract must be conducted. 

It is vital to take a note of the fact that two parties exist in any options contract. These two parties consist of a purchaser and a seller. In options contracts, there is only a right given to buyers and sellers who enter contracts, but there is no obligation to carry out transactions. There are premiums attached to these contracts, and should buyers or sellers refrain from the transactions, only these have to be paid. Whether you buy or sell any options, there is a price involved. This is essentially what the premium entails. 

Intrinsic value of an option: What is intrinsic value and how to calculate it

Simply put, the intrinsic value of any option translates to the present market value of the options contract. Therefore, when you talk of the intrinsic value, it represents how much “in the money” that the contract is presently. “In the money” implies that the price of the underlying asset is higher than the price which is the strike price. Once you have grasped this, you will understand the concept of intrinsic value better. Let’s understand with an illustrative example:  

Say, a call options contract comes with a strike price of Rs. 200 and the stock price is currently of a value of Rs. 300. The intrinsic value of such a call option would be equal to Rs. 100 (300 minus 200). In case a buyer wishes to execute their buying right, they have to pay Rs. 200 (the strike price) and will be able to sell the stock in the markets at Rs. 300. Therefore, a profit of Rs. 100 will be made. As a result of this, the intrinsic value computes what a buyer can make as profits or gains at any point in time before the options contract reaches its expiry date. Something of note is that “out of the money” contracts will always have an intrinsic value equal to zero. This is due to the fact that no buyer will execute any rights when there will be a resultant loss. 

Intrinsic value of an option: How to calculate it :

The Intrinsic value of an option can be defined as the extent to which the option is in-the-money (ITM). What do we understand about ITM options? An ITM option is one where the right implicit in the option is valuable purely because the price is favourable. To understand the concept of intrinsic value one also needs to understand the concept of time value of an option. In fact, it is the sum of the time value and the intrinsic value that represents the market price of the option. Time value, as the name suggests, is the price you pay for the expectation that the option price will move further in your favour. For example, ATM options and OTM options do not have any intrinsic value since there is no price advantage for the option in both the cases. Hence the entire premium of the option represents the time value only. If all that sounds a tad confusing, then let us break up this discussion further into call options and put options and understand the intrinsic value of an option in granular detail.

Here is how to calculate the intrinsic value of a call option and a put option:

Intrinsic value of a call option:

A call option is the right to buy an asset without the obligation to buy that asset. You agree to buy the asset at a price which is called the strike price. If the market price is above the strike price, then the call option has a positive intrinsic value. If the market price is below the strike price, then the call option has zero intrinsic value. Look at the formula below..

Call Options: Intrinsic value = Underlying Stock's Current Price - Call Strike Price

Time Value = Call Premium - Intrinsic Value

Let us break down this idea of intrinsic value of call option with a live example of different strikes and correlate with different market prices of the stock. Let us look at the price of Reliance.

Strike PriceCMP - 935Intrinsic ValueTime ValueCMP-955Intrinsic ValueTime Value920 Call261511543519930 Call1257422517940 Call80823158950 Call505954960 Call202606

In the above table, the pink shaded cells represent the out of the money (OTM) call options. In all the OTM options you will find that the intrinsic value of the option is zero and the premium of options is entirely represented by time value (expectations).


Intrinsic value of a put option:

A put option is the right to sell an asset without the obligation to sell that asset. You agree to sell the asset at a price which is called the strike price. If the market price is below the strike price, then the put option has a positive intrinsic value. If the market price is above the strike price, then the put option has zero intrinsic value. Look at the formula below.

Put Options: Intrinsic value = Call Strike Price - Underlying Stock's Current Price

Time Value = Put Premium - Intrinsic Value

The put option payoff will be a mirror image of the call option payoff. Like in case of call options, even in case of put options, the OTM and ATM options will have zero intrinsic value. The only difference is that the intrinsic value of a put option increases as the market price of the stock keeps falling.

 

How to apply intrinsic value of options to your trading strategy :

Here are 3 basic rules to apply the concept of intrinsic value while trading :

Options that have a very high proportion of intrinsic value are almost akin to trading futures. In that case you can take a call whether you want to trade in a wasting asset or in a futures contract which can be rolled over.

Options with low intrinsic value and higher time value will have a larger propensity to see value shifts when the volatility in the market changes. That is because time value is more susceptible to changes in volatility.

When you pay the option price while buying options, split the price into intrinsic value and time value. Then you get an idea how much you are paying for embedded value and how much you are paying for future expectations of price movement. The intrinsic value and time value of an option can be determined with the help of an option value calculator.

Consider Intrinsic Value

In options contracts, the intrinsic value and the time value are crucial in the way of learning the purpose that these contracts serve. Time value should be understood in relation to intrinsic value to get the most out of any options contract. This makes investors make informed and appropriate decisions when going in for such contracts. The chances of profit are also, naturally, higher. 

Related Articles: How to Open a Demat Account Without a Broker | Factors to Keep in Mind While Opening a Demat account | Factors to Consider When Opening a Demat Account 

 

Popular Stocks: ONGC Share Price | SBI Life Share Price | UPL Share Price | TCS Share Price | Titan Share Price

Checkout more Blogs

You may also like…

Get Exclusive Updates

Be the first to read our new blogs

Intelligent investment insights delivered to your inbox, for Free, daily!

Open Demat Account
I wish to talk in South Indian language
By proceeding you’re agree to our T&C
setTimeout(function() { }, 5000);