Fair value is defined as the actual worth of an option-buying or selling it at this price leaves little to no profit opportunity. This value is important to know because it can be used to ascertain whether an option is expensive or reasonably priced. Option traders use fair value as a reference, and profit by purchasing options for less than their fair value or selling them for more than their fair value. At expiration, it is very easy to determine an option's fair value. Before expiration the fair value of an option is an estimate and is termed "theoretical" value. This value is generated by an option pricing model in OptionStation.
At expiration, there is a very straightforward method of determining the fair value of an option. For a call option at expiration, if the underlying asset is trading at a price that is greater than the strike price, the fair value is equal to the difference between the price of the underlying asset and the option's strike price. For a put option at expiration, if the underlying asset is trading at a price which is less than the strike price, the fair value is equal to the difference between the option's strike price and the underlying asset.
Prior to expiration, the fair or theoretical value of an option is considerably more difficult to determine. What you may consider a reasonable theoretical value, another trader may find unreasonable. This is because one cannot predict with 100% certainty the price of the underlying asset at option expiration. As explained above, knowing the asset's value at expiration is the only way can one truly determine an option's fair value. Consequently, prior to an option's expiration, one can expect disagreement about its fair value. This disagreement is healthy for the market and it is this difference of opinion that creates both buyers and sellers.
FAQs
Fair value is defined as the actual worth of an option-buying or selling it at this price leaves little to no profit opportunity. This value is important to know because it can be used to ascertain whether an option is expensive or reasonably priced.
What is the formula for theoretical fair value? ›
Determining fair value
The Peter Lynch fair value calculation assumes that when a stock is fairly valued, the trailing P/E ratio of the stock (Price/EPS) will equal its long-term EPS growth rate: Fair Value = EPS * EPS Growth Rate.
What does theoretical value mean in options? ›
The theoretical value of an option is an estimate of what an option should be worth using all known inputs. In other words, option pricing models provide us a fair value of an option. Knowing the estimate of the fair value of an option, finance professionals could adjust their trading strategies and portfolios.
How do you solve for fair value? ›
Fair value is determined by the price at which an asset is bought or sold when both the buyer and seller freely agree on the price. Buyers and sellers compare the prices of comparable assets, look at the growth potential of the asset, and estimate its replacement cost to determine the fair value of an asset.
How do I find the theoretical value? ›
The theoretical value during the exercise of rights period—when rights trade independently of the stock—differs from the value during the cum rights period. The calculation for the value during the exercise of rights period is: (Stock price - Right subscription price) / Number of rights needed to buy a share.
What is an example of a fair value? ›
Fair value means an asset's sale price. This is agreed upon by a buyer and seller, only when it is obvious that both parties are knowledgeable and can also access the transaction freely. For example, securities have a fair value that are picked out by the market where they are traded.
How do you find the theoretical expected value? ›
In statistics and probability analysis, the EV is calculated by multiplying each of the possible outcomes by the likelihood that each outcome will occur and then summing all of those values.
What is considered fair value? ›
Fair value refers to the actual value of an asset – a product, stock, or security – that is agreed upon by both the seller and the buyer. Fair value is applicable to a product that is sold or traded in the market where it belongs or under normal conditions – and not to one that is being liquidated.
What is the difference between calculated value and theoretical value? ›
The experimental value is your calculated value, and the actual value is the known value (sometimes called the accepted or theoretical value). A percentage very close to zero means you are very close to your targeted value, which is good.
How to calculate the fair value of options? ›
The factors determining the value of an option include the current stock price, the intrinsic value, the time to expiration or time value, volatility, interest rates, and cash dividends paid. Several options pricing models use these parameters to determine the fair market value of an option.
Theoretical values, also known as accepted values, are not directly measured. Instead, they are widely considered to be true based on theoretical justifications or authoritative sources.
What is the fair value rule? ›
» securities for which market quotations are readily available must be priced at. market value; and. » all other securities must be assigned a “fair value as determined in good faith by the board of directors” of the fund.
How do you determine the fair value of a product? ›
Fair value is calculated using methods like comparing recent sales, cash flow analysis, or adjusting for changes in value, depending on the asset type.
What is the formula for fair market value? ›
How fair market value is calculated. There's no absolute formula for calculating fair market value. But is often calculated by taking the value of three or more comparable homes, or comps, that have recently sold and obtaining an average, Garrity says.
What is the theoretical value in an experiment? ›
An accepted value, also known as a theoretical value, is a numerical value that is widely considered to be correct. Often this consensus is based on historical research which is authoritative or widely repeated.
What is fair value in simple terms? ›
Fair value refers to the actual value of an asset – a product, stock, or security – that is agreed upon by both the seller and the buyer. Fair value is applicable to a product that is sold or traded in the market where it belongs or under normal conditions – and not to one that is being liquidated.
What is the formula for the theoretical expected value? ›
To find the expected value, E(X), or mean μ of a discrete random variable X, simply multiply each value of the random variable by its probability and add the products. The formula is given as E ( X ) = μ = ∑ x P ( x ) .