Put Call Ratio (PCR): Definition, Formula, Calculation, and Interpretation

After the COVID Pandemic hit there’s a increase in Stock Market traders and investors around the world. As during the Pandemic it was one of the few ways to make money that was opened and people still continue to do so. Therefore, today in this article we’ll discuss one of the important components of the stock market: the Put Call Ratio. Every investor of the stock market should have knowledge about their phenomenon as Put call Ratio allows them to understand the sentiments of the market and help them to plan their investment strategy accordingly. So let’s have an in-depth look at what is Put Call Ratio.

Put Call Ratio

Suggested Read:-

Systematic Investment Plan(SIP): Definition, Types, Benefits, Working, Features, Plans, Steps To Invest, Things to Consider, Who Should Invest and More!

Advertisements

 

 

Put vs Call Option:-

Below we’ll discuss both Put and Call options separately which will  make our understanding about both of them much more clear.

Put Option: Put options are like insurance policies for your stocks. When you buy a Put option, you’re getting the right to sell your stocks at a specific price, known as the “strike price,” before a certain date, no matter how low the stock price falls. Imagine you buy a Put option for INR 50 on a stock. If the stock’s price drops to INR40, you can still sell it for INR 50, even though its market price is lower.

Advertisements

Call Option : Call opinions are like booking tickets for a future date at a fixed price. When you buy a Call option, you’re getting the right to buy stocks at a specific price, again known as the “strike price,” before a certain date, no matter how high the stock price goes. For instance, if you buy a Call option for INR 50 on a stock, and its price rises to INR60, you can still buy it for INR50, even though others might pay more.

 

So basically Put and Call options are essentially the same thing and are different faces of the same coin. Both tend to benefit you while Put is related to selling something, call is related to buying it.  The understanding of both if these terms will help you to plan your strategies well according to the sentiments of the market.

 

Advertisements

 

 

What is Put Call Ratio?

The Put Call Ratio is a tool used in the stock market to understand how investors feel about the future direction of a particular stock or the overall market. It’s pretty straightforward: the Put Call Ratio simply compares the number of put options to the number of call options traded.  A put option gives you the right, but not the obligation, to sell a stock at a certain price within a specific timeframe. On the other hand, a call option gives you the right, but not the obligation, to buy a stock at a certain price within a specific timeframe.

 

Advertisements

 

 

How to Calculate the Put Call Ratio?

To calculate the Put Call Ratio, you just divide the total number of put options by the total number of call options traded. This ratio tells us a lot about investor sentiment.  So, by keeping an eye on the Put Call Ratio, investors can gain insight into how the market participants are feeling and make informed decisions about their investments.

 

Advertisements

 

Interpretation of Put Call Ratio

It is important that one is able to interpret the value given by Put call Ratio and it gives the insight of what other investors are thinking about the market. The PUT CALL ratio can possibly give three outcomes and we have discussed below what all these three outcomes mean.

 

Put Call Ratio < 1 :  If put call ratio is below 1 it is a sign that investors are feeling pretty optimistic. They’re buying more call options than put options, which means they’re betting that the market will go up. It’s like saying, “Hey, things are looking good!”

Advertisements

 

Put Call Ratio = 1: If put call ratio is equal to 1 or close to it , it means investors are kind of on the fence. They’re buying about the same number of call options as put options, so they’re not leaning too heavily in either direction. It’s like they’re saying, “Hmm, let’s wait and see what happens.”

 

Put Call Ratio > 1:  if put call ratio is greater than 1 it means  things start to look bearish. Investors are buying more put options than call options, indicating they’re expecting the market to go down.

Advertisements

 

 

Conclusion:-

So this was all about the Put Call Ratio. By keeping an eye on the Put Call Ratio, we can try to predict which way the market might be headed. If the ratio starts climbing steadily, it could be a warning sign that a downturn is on the horizon. On the other hand, if it’s dropping consistently, it might mean smoother sailing ahead.

 

Advertisements

FAQs:-

1. What is a Put Call Ratio (PCR)?
– The Put Call Ratio (PCR) is a tool used in the stock market to gauge investor sentiment by comparing the number of put options to call options traded.

2. How does a Put Option work?
– A Put Option gives the holder the right to sell a stock at a predetermined price before a specified date, regardless of how low the stock price falls.

3. What is a Call Option?
– A Call Option grants the holder the right to buy a stock at a predetermined price before a specified date, regardless of how high the stock price rises.

4. How is the Put Call Ratio calculated?
– The Put Call Ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of put options traded by the total number of call options traded.

Advertisements

5. What does a Put Call Ratio below 1 indicate?
– A Put Call Ratio below 1 suggests that investors are optimistic, as they are buying more call options than put options, indicating a bullish sentiment.

6. What does a Put Call Ratio of 1 signify?
– A Put Call Ratio of 1 suggests that investors are neutral, as they are buying an equal number of call and put options, indicating indecision in the market.

7. What does a Put Call Ratio above 1 suggest?
– A Put Call Ratio above 1 indicates bearish sentiment, as investors are buying more put options than call options, signaling an expectation of market decline.

8. How does the Put Call Ratio help investors?
– The Put Call Ratio provides insight into investor sentiment, helping investors make informed decisions about their investments based on market expectations.

Advertisements

9. Can the Put Call Ratio predict market trends?
– While the Put Call Ratio can provide clues about market sentiment, it is not a definitive predictor of market trends but rather a tool for analysis.

10. Is the Put Call Ratio applicable to all stocks?
– Yes, the Put Call Ratio can be calculated for individual stocks as well as for the overall market, providing insights into sentiment across various securities.

 

Leave a Comment

Index
Floating Icons