MGM Cash-Secured Put: Strike Selection, Premium & Risk
How to sell cash-secured puts on MGM Resorts — optimal strikes, expected premium, and the risks that actually matter for a mid-cap consumer discretionary name.
Is MGM a good cash-secured put candidate?
MGM (MGM Resorts) is a mid-cap consumer discretionary name with a low share price and excellent options liquidity. Implied volatility is high enough to pay meaningful premium without being wild, which is why this ticker shows up frequently in wheel-strategy watchlists. It pays no dividend, so every dollar of income must come from the options you sell.
Strike selection for a MGM cash-secured put
For MGM cash-secured puts, target strikes 10-15% below the current price at deltas of 0.15-0.25. Use 21-35 DTE to capture IV without excess gamma risk. The rule is simple: only sell a put at a strike where you would genuinely be happy owning 100 shares, because on a high-volatility ticker you will occasionally get assigned.
Expected premium and income on MGM
Typical monthly premium collected on MGM runs around 2.0-3.5% of capital, which annualizes to roughly 24-42% if you sell new contracts every cycle. Capital required to run a single contract wheel on MGM is under $5,000 — the share price and the 100-share lot size set the minimum, not the strategy.
Risk management for MGM cash-secured put trades
The core risk on a cash-secured put is assignment into a falling stock: your break-even is the strike minus the premium, so a sharp drop below that level leaves you with unrealized losses on the assigned shares. MGM's high-volatility profile means 3-6% daily moves are normal during earnings or macro catalysts. Consumer discretionary is tightly coupled to retail sales and consumer sentiment data; miss on guidance and the stock can drop 15%+ in a session.
MGM Cash-Secured Put FAQ
What is the best delta for a MGM cash-secured put?
A delta of 0.15-0.25 on MGM balances premium income with assignment probability. Many traders anchor to 0.20 delta as a starting point and adjust based on their willingness to own shares.
How much cash do I need to sell a put on MGM?
Cash required is 100 × strike price. For MGM, that's roughly under $5,000 per contract at a typical strike. Most brokers let you use margin, but for a true cash-secured put you set aside the full amount.
What expiration should I use for MGM cash-secured put trades?
Use 21-35 DTE to capture IV without excess gamma risk as a default for MGM. This window captures the steepest part of the theta curve without excess gamma risk.
Is MGM suitable for beginners selling options?
Mostly yes, though beginners should use small size and confirm liquidity on each expiration they trade.
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