The call vs. put distinction can be confusing to options-trading beginners. Here’s what you need to know about the difference between puts and calls. Many, or all, of the products featured on this ...

James Chen, CMT is an expert trader, investment adviser, and global market strategist. Charlene Rhinehart is a CPA , CFE, chair of an Illinois CPA Society committee, and has a degree in accounting and ...

Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Somer G. Anderson is CPA, doctor of ...

Paid non-client promotion: Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our ...

A put option is a financial contract that provides an investor the right (but not obligation) to sell a stock at a designated price prior to an expiration date. Learn more about put options and how ...

Structurally speaking, call and put options are relatively simple. A put option allows an investor to sell a security, usually though not always a stock, at a predetermined price. A call option allows ...