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What are the Difference Between ITM, ATM, and OTM Call and Put Options

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If you are someone who tracks the derivatives market or the stock market in general, you must have heard call and put options. You also must have heard about the moneyness of options such as in the money, out of the money, or at the money.

If you are wondering what these terms related to options trading are or feel uncertain about their precise meaning, this blog is for you. Here, we will learn in detail about all the types of options and explore ways to classify them based on their moneyness.

What are ATM, ITM, and OTM?

When you trade options, understanding the terms At-The-Money (ATM), In-The-Money (ITM), and Out-Of-The-Money (OTM) helps you interpret how your strike price compares to the current market price of the underlying asset. These classifications affect whether the option has intrinsic value, how much premium you pay, and your exercise decisions. You may come across these frequently while checking option chains or planning your trades, and recognising what each one means can help you assess cost and potential payout structures more clearly. These terms apply to both call and put options, but behave differently in each context.

1. ATM (At-The-Money)

An option is considered ATM when the strike price is almost equal to the current market price of the underlying asset. In this case, the option does not have any intrinsic value but still holds time value. For example, if NIFTY is trading at ₹25,000 and the call or put strike price is ₹25,000, it is an ATM option. You may notice ATM options are often the most liquid and have relatively balanced pricing due to their equal distance from being either profitable or not.

2. ITM (In-The-Money)

You hold an ITM option when it already has intrinsic value. A call option is ITM when the market price is above the strike price. A put option is ITM when the market price is below the strike price. For instance, if the stock is trading at ₹2,200 and your call option strike is ₹2,000, then it is ITM. You may notice that ITM options have higher premiums because they already have real value if exercised.

3. OTM (Out-Of-The-Money)

An option is OTM when it has no intrinsic value—only time value. For a call, it means the strike price is higher than the current market price. For a put, it means the strike price is lower than the market price. If a stock trades at ₹850 and you hold a ₹900 call option, it is OTM. These options are usually cheaper but may expire worthless if the market does not move favourably. You may come across these while seeking low-cost strategies.

Example of ATM, ITM, and OTM

Knowing real-life scenarios can help you identify ATM, ITM, and OTM options more confidently while looking at an option chain. The examples below use hypothetical stock prices to show you how these options behave under different price situations. You can use this logic with any asset or index to determine their current moneyness and understand where your strike price stands.

1. ATM (At-The-Money) option

If the NIFTY index is trading at ₹24,900 and you hold a NIFTY call or put with a strike price of ₹24,900, that option is ATM. You can see that it is neither profitable nor loss-making if exercised immediately. ATM options are often used by traders expecting quick movements.

2. ITM (In-The-Money) option

If a stock trades at ₹1,050 and you have a call option with a ₹1,000 strike price, it is ITM. If the same stock has a put with a ₹1,100 strike, that too is ITM. You can exercise them profitably. These options cost more but already offer intrinsic value.

3. OTM (Out-Of-The-Money) option

Suppose a stock trades at ₹680. A ₹720 call or a ₹640 put is OTM. These strike prices are far from the current value, meaning there is no intrinsic value yet. You may buy them expecting a large move, but they can also expire worthless if price action is limited.

Difference between ITM, ATM and OTM options

Before you enter a trade, identifying whether an option is ITM, ATM, or OTM helps you manage cost, risk, and potential outcome. The table below helps you quickly differentiate between them using key characteristics. You can refer to this while scanning strike prices or planning expiry-day strategies.

Criteria

ITM (In-The-Money)

ATM (At-The-Money)

OTM (Out-Of-The-Money)

Intrinsic Value

Present

None

None

Exercise Potential

Can be exercised for a gain

Not profitable to exercise

Cannot be exercised for a gain

Premium Cost

Highest

Moderate

Lowest

Risk Level

Lower

Moderate

Higher

Expiry Outcome if unchanged

May retain some value

Likely to retain some time value

Likely to expire worthless

How do premiums differ across ATM, ITM, and OTM

The premium you pay for an option depends on whether it is ITM, ATM, or OTM. These differences exist due to intrinsic value and time decay. As you scroll through an option chain, you may notice how the cost changes based on strike price positioning. This table shows a simplified breakdown.

Option Type

Premium Composition

Premium Cost Estimate

Key Observations

ITM

Intrinsic Value + Time Value

High

Higher cost due to realisable profit potential

ATM

Only Time Value

Medium

Balanced pricing with no intrinsic value

OTM

Only Time Value

Low

Cheapest but also riskiest due to no intrinsic value

You may choose different option types based on your risk tolerance and strategy, but it is important to remember that the premium structure plays a critical role in profitability.

Understanding Elements of Options Contracts

To understand the moneyness of options contracts, it is important to know the two most common elements, strike price, and spot price. Let’s decode them.

Strike Price

The strike price, also known as the exercise price, is the predetermined price at which the buyer of an option holds the right to buy or sell the underlying security. There are call-and-put options of various strike prices simultaneously trading in the market.

For example, if you bought a ₹200 Call Option of ABC Limited at ₹15 per lot, then in this case, ₹200 is the strike price, and ₹15 is the premium you paid to buy the option.

Spot Price

The spot price is nothing but the current market price of the underlying stock. Let’s assume that ABC Limited’s stock performed well and surged to ₹220. In this case, ₹220 is the spot price.

The relationship between the strike price and spot price determines the moneyness of the options contract. Let’s discover how.

Moneyness of Options Contract

In The Money (ITM)

In the case of a call option, if the spot price of the underlying stock is higher than the strike price, then such call options are called ‘in the money’ call options. For put options to be ‘in the money’, the spot price should be lower than the strike price.

Continuing the previous example, since the current market price (₹220) is higher and the strike price of the call option you bought (₹200), it is classified as ‘in the money’.

Out of The Money (OTM)

For a call option to be ‘out of the money’, the spot price should be lower than the strike price. Inversely, in the case of the put option, the spot price must be higher than the strike price to classify as ‘out of the money’.

Let’s assume that instead of buying a ₹200 call option, you buy a ₹250 call option from ABC Limited. Now, if the stock’s current market price is still at ₹220, your call option is ‘out of the money’ since the spot price is lower than the strike price.

At The Money (ATM)

When the spot and strike price are equivalent, such options, whether call or put, are termed ‘at the money’. There are only two options, one call option and one put option, classified as ‘at the money’.

For example, if the spot price of ABC Limited stock is ₹200, then your ₹200 call option is ‘at the money’. Instead, even if you were holding a ₹200 put option, it would also be ‘in the money’.

Illustration Table for ITM, ATM, and OTM Call and Put Options  

Let’s assume that the current market price (spot price) of ABC Limited is ₹200.

ABC Limited

Call Option

Strike Price

Put Option

ITM

170

OTM

ITM

180

OTM

ITM

190

OTM

ATM

200

ATM

OTM

210

ITM

OTM

220

ITM

OTM

230

ITM

In the above table, all the call options with lower strike prices compared to the spot are ITM, and put options with lower strike prices compared to the spot are OTM. Inversely, call options with higher strike prices compared to the spot are OTM and put options with higher strike prices compared to the spot are ITM. Since the spot is ₹200, the call and put options with ₹200 strike price are ATM options.

Conclusion 

A simple trick to quickly classify the option between ITM, OTM, and ATM is to compare the strike price with the spot price. In the case of call options, if the spot is higher than the strike price, it is an ‘in the money’ option, and if it is lower than the strike price, it is an ‘out of the money’ option. For put options, if the spot price is lower than the strike price, then it is an ITM option and if it is higher, then the option is OTM. When spot and strike prices are equivalent, the options are ‘at the money’.

Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.

This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

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