Who Adjusted My Options? And Other Corporate Action Questions

It seems like every so often there’s a major company announcement—a mega-merger, acquisition, stock split, or a special dividend—but these are just the big ones we hear about. In actuality, such events, commonly referred to as “corporate actions,” occur pretty much every day, at companies big and small.

Typically, a corporate action will require adjustments to be made to the number of outstanding shares and/or the share price, and depending on the type of action, the stock symbol may also change. The terms of listed options contracts too are often adjusted; depending on the specifics, certain options contract terms and obligations, such as the strike price, multiplier, or the terms of the deliverable, could be altered. And because these alterations often result in contract terms that fall outside the standard, 100-share contracts, they’re often referred to as “nonstandard options.” 

The Math Remains the Same

Sound intimidating? It doesn’t need to be. Remember, these adjustments are made in order to keep valuations and obligations intact after a corporate action. For example, suppose Company XYZ announces a 3-for-1 split as of a specific date (the “adjustment date”). Suppose you own 100 shares as of the adjustment date, and on that date, the company stock is trading at $150 per share. After the split, you’d own 300 shares, each worth $50. The shares are valued at $15,000, both before and after the split.

Suppose further that you had purchased a 75-strike put option that is set to expire after the adjustment date. Although the actual terms will be decided by a committee (see the next section below), after the adjustment is made, you’d likely hold three put options contracts, each with a 25 strike. All other terms would likely remain the same. Once again, from a fundamental standpoint anyway, nothing has changed.  

In the world of options adjustments, even splits like the example above are relatively straightforward. Others, such as an odd-ratio split (like 5:4 or 3:2), or an acquisition involving fractional share transfer or cash-and-stock, can get complex. And oftentimes, strike prices won’t be a round number, but rather rounded to the nearest penny. 

The Arbiters of Adjustment

In general, when a corporate action is announced, the company will notify the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), which provides clearing and settlement services for U.S. securities transactions. DTCC determines how shares will trade pre-event.

The OCC, the central clearer for listed options in the United States, then determines how these changes will be reflected in options. The OCC Securities Committee and an “adjustment panel,” comprising two representatives from each exchange that lists that company’s options, plus one OCC representative, decide whether an adjustment is called for, and how it should be structured. The decision is binding to all investors.

A detailed memo on each corporate action and any resulting adjustment determinations is posted to the OCC website. The options exchanges will usually issue adjustment memos on their websites as well. Although adjustments are determined on a case-by-case basis, each type of corporate action is typically adjusted per table 1 below. 

No Free Lunch in Adjusted Options

You’ll generally find no free money just sitting there after an adjustment. Today’s ultra-fast, ultra-sophisticated algorithmic trading systems calculate theoretical values of adjusted options and squeeze out any pricing inefficiencies in the blink of an eye.

If you see an option that appears priced too good to be true, it may be unwise to jump in without doing your homework. It’s probably best to do more research; you’re likely missing something.

And if you find yourself with a position in nonstandard options due to an adjustment, should you liquidate? There’s no right or wrong answer—remember, the fundamentals don’t change; the terms are adjusted to keep the fundamentals intact. However, some nonstandard options can have less liquidity and wider-than-normal bid/ask spreads. So, at minimum, it may not make sense to establish new positions once options are adjusted.

Have My Options Been Adjusted?

The best way to know for certain that you have an adjusted options position is to check the OCC website for any memos related to the company in question. But there are a few warning signs as to whether an option has been adjusted:

• It looks mispriced. Take a look at the entire option chain, and if an entire class of options looks to be too cheap or too expensive—say, if synthetics don’t line up, or if in-the-money options look to be offered below their intrinsic value, there may have been an adjustment. And for more on synthetics and put-call parity, please refer to this options synthetics article.
• Different symbols for the same strike price. Sometimes an adjusted nonstandard contract sits adjacent to a standard contract. Look at the chain and note whether all symbols are identical. You might even see two options with the same strike and expiration date but with different bids and offers.
• Abbreviations and tags. On the TD Ameritrade website, nonstandard options in an option chain will have the letters “NS” next to the options price. In the thinkorswim® platform, an option chain will display any different symbols or deliverables. 

And if you’re still not sure, it’s best to contact your broker. TD Ameritrade clients can contact a specialist for help or email support@thinkorswim.com.