Stock Options Channel finds Apple Inc (Symbol: AAPL) consistently popular. This week, we shine a light on the intriguing put and call contracts in the January 2026 expiration for AAPL.

Favorable Put Contract

The put contract at the $105 strike, with a bid of $1.60, piqued our YieldBoost algorithm’s interest, offering a 1.5% return against the $105 commitment. Selling this put involves an annualized rate of return of 0.8%. However, it does not offer upside potential like owning shares would, as the put seller can only acquire shares if the contract is exercised, requiring Apple Inc’s shares to decline by 44.1%.

Surprisingly, the annualized 0.8% figure exceeds Apple Inc’s 0.5% annualized dividend. In contrast, buying the stock at the current market price involves greater downside, with the stock needing to drop by 44.15% to reach the $105 strike price.

Call Contract of Interest

For shareholders of Apple Inc (Symbol: AAPL) seeking to enhance their income, one interesting call contract is at the $220 strike. Selling this covered call and collecting the premium, based on the $16.65 bid, yields an additional 4.6% rate of return against the current stock price. This brings the total annualized rate to 5.1% if the stock is not called away. However, any upside above $220 would be forfeited if the stock rises to that level and is called away, necessitating an advance of 17% from current levels.

Beneficial Historical Context

Assessing the trailing twelve-month trading history for Apple Inc and the stock’s historical volatility alongside fundamental analysis assists in determining whether selling the January 2026 put or call options featured in this article yield a rewarding rate of return, commensurate with the risks.

Market Insights

In mid-afternoon trading on Monday, options trading revealed a preference for calls, with a high call volume relative to puts, indicated by the put:call ratio of 0.56. This is against a long-term median put:call ratio of 0.65, highlighting greater interest in calls by buyers.