Calendar Spread

Calendar spread

Applies to derivative products. A strategy in which there is a simultaneous purchase and sale of options of the same class at the same strike prices, but with different expiration date.

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Time Spread

An options strategy in which an investor takes the same position in two different option contracts that are identical in every way except the expiration date. For example, an investor utilizing a time spread strategy may buy or write two puts on the same underlying asset at the same strike price; the only difference is that one of the puts has a longer expiration. A time spread allows the investor to profit from the difference in price on the underlying asset between the two expiration dates. It is also called a horizontal spread and a calendar spread.

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calendar spread

In options and futures trading, the purchase of one contract and the sale of another contract that differs from the first only by its delivery or expiration date. An example of calendar spread would be the purchase of a December call with a strike price of $20 and the sale of a June call with the same strike price. An investor would use a calendar spread in order to profit from a change in the price difference as the securities move closer to maturity. Also called horizontal spread, time spread.