Buy an ATM call and an ATM put at the same strike and expiry. You pay both premiums and profit when the price breaks strongly in either direction.
When to use: Before events with an uncertain outcome (earnings, Fed decisions, M&A). Implied volatility (IV) is typically high — be careful not to overpay for the straddle.
| Metric | Formula | Example (Strike $100, Call $4 + Put $4 = Total $8) |
|---|---|---|
| Max. Profit | Unlimited (upside) | ↑ on strong breakout |
| Max. Loss | −Total Premium × 100 | −$800 (price = strike) |
| Upper Breakeven | Strike + Total Premium | $108 |
| Lower Breakeven | Strike − Total Premium | $92 |
💡 sTraderZ.com recognises a Long Straddle as Long Call + Long Put (same strike, same expiry) (↔️ Neutral).