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How do I read a ticket?

Homemade OptionsLast updated November 2, 2026
Quick answerA ticket is the whole trade: the call to buy, the call to sell, the expiry, the debit (the most to pay, per share), its price in cents per 1 dollar of width, the most it can make, the breakeven, and when to sell.
The details
  • The play: Buy the lower strike call, Sell the higher strike call, both on the expiry shown.
  • Debit: what the spread costs per share at the midpoint. Under it, "a spread" is that times 100, what one spread costs you.
  • Cents per 1 dollar: the debit divided by the width (the gap between the strikes). On sale is 43¢ or less.
  • Max return: the most it can make if the stock is above the higher strike at expiry, as a % of the debit.
  • Breakeven: where the stock needs to be at expiry to get your money back.
  • The rules line: fill by 4:00 PM ET at or under the debit, the GTC sell price (+40%), and the last day.
  • Clean spread: a whole 1, 2 or 5 dollar width.
  • Wide spread: use a limit: a leg's bid/ask is wide right now. Be patient with your limit.
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