Options

Call Option: Definition

Educational purposes only. This content does not constitute investment advice. Read our disclaimer

StockCram is not a broker-dealer, investment adviser, or financial institution. All content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice. Consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Simple Definition

The right to BUY a stock at a specific price. You profit if the stock goes up.

Why It Matters

Calls are the most popular option type because they let you bet on a stock going up with limited risk. If NVDA is at $500 and you buy a $520 call for $10, you risk $1,000 max but have unlimited upside if it rallies.

Key Points

  • Buying calls = bullish bet with capped downside (you can only lose the premium)
  • Calls become more valuable as the stock price rises above the strike price
  • Time decay works against call buyers - the closer to expiration, the faster value erodes

Related Terms

Common Questions

The right to BUY a stock at a specific price. You profit if the stock goes up. Calls are the most popular option type because they let you bet on a stock going up with limited risk. If NVDA is at $500 and you buy a $520 call for $10, you risk $1,000 max but have unlimited upside if it rallies.

Calls are the most popular option type because they let you bet on a stock going up with limited risk. If NVDA is at $500 and you buy a $520 call for $10, you risk $1,000 max but have unlimited upside if it rallies.

Buying calls = bullish bet with capped downside (you can only lose the premium)

Calls become more valuable as the stock price rises above the strike price

Time decay works against call buyers - the closer to expiration, the faster value erodes