QUS P&L Curve
State Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically the Asset Management industry, with a market capitalization near $1.49B, listed on AMEX, carrying a beta of 0.76 to the broader market. The State Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the MSCI USA Factor Mix A-Series Capped Index (the "Index")Seeks to track a Smart Beta index that blends low volatility, quality and value exposures together in a single strategyThe resulting mix may offer a low-volatility strategy with an equal focus on high-quality and attractively valued firmsMulti-factor smart beta strategies can bridge the gap between active and passive management, providing an opportunity for investors to rethink exposures and potentially maximize risk-adjusted returns more efficiently public since 2015-04-16.
A profit/loss curve charts the theoretical gain or loss of an options position across a range of underlying prices. It helps traders visualize risk, identify breakeven points, and compare strategies before committing capital.
- Exchange
- AMEX
- Sector
- Financial Services
- Industry
- Asset Management
- Market Cap
- $1.49B
- IPO Date
- 2015-04-16
- Beta
- 0.76
At the current $183.53 spot price with 13.0% ATM implied volatility and 34 days to the front expiration, an at-the-money long straddle carries an approximate combined premium near $5.83, producing breakevens at roughly $177.70 and $189.36. Market-implied 1-standard-deviation range extends from $176.69 to $190.37, which sets the relevant P&L evaluation window for most near-term strategies. Payoff diagrams should be rebuilt from the live options chain; the preceding values are illustrative and assume a single at-the-money straddle for reference.
Frequently asked QUS pl curve questions
- What does a QUS ATM straddle cost today?
- Using current QUS pricing (13.0% ATM IV, 34-day front expiration, $183.53 spot), an at-the-money long straddle (long call + long put at the same strike) carries an approximate combined premium near $5.83 per spread. Breakevens land at roughly $189.36 on the upside and $177.70 on the downside. The estimate uses the Brenner-Subrahmanyam approximation for at-the-money options under Black-Scholes.
- How do I read an options P&L curve?
- An options P&L curve plots theoretical position value at expiration (or at any chosen evaluation date) against the underlying price. The X-axis is the underlying price scenario, the Y-axis is position dollar P&L. The shape of the curve tells you the strategy's directional sensitivity, breakeven points, maximum profit and loss levels, and where time decay or volatility shifts will be most impactful. Multi-leg structures combine the curves of the individual legs to produce composite payoff diagrams.
- What's the difference between a P&L curve and a payoff diagram?
- Strictly: a payoff diagram shows option value at expiration (no time premium left), while a P&L curve typically shows position value at any evaluation date (with remaining time premium). The expiration payoff diagram has kinks at the strikes; the early P&L curve is smooth. For directional-vega trades, the early P&L curve also responds to IV shifts that the expiration payoff diagram does not capture - which is why options traders often look at both views.
- Why are illustrative QUS P&L numbers approximate?
- The numbers above use Black-Scholes assumptions (lognormal returns, constant volatility, no early exercise, no dividends). Real-world option prices reflect skew, term structure, jump risk, and (for US-style options) early exercise premium. Use the live options chain for actual quoted bid/ask prices when sizing trades; the values here illustrate magnitude only.