GIC P&L Curve

Global Industrial Company (GIC) operates in the Industrials sector, specifically the Industrial - Distribution industry, with a market capitalization near $1.09B, listed on NYSE, employing roughly 1,845 people, carrying a beta of 0.82 to the broader market. Global Industrial Company, through its subsidiaries, operates as a value-added industrial distributor of industrial and maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) products in North America. Led by Anesa T. Chaibi, public since 1995-06-27.

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
NYSE
Sector
Industrials
Industry
Industrial - Distribution
Market Cap
$1.09B
Employees
1.8K
IPO Date
1995-06-27
CEO
Anesa T. Chaibi
Beta
0.82

At the current $28.89 spot price with 53.5% ATM implied volatility and 34 days to the front expiration, an at-the-money long straddle carries an approximate combined premium near $3.77, producing breakevens at roughly $25.12 and $32.66. Market-implied 1-standard-deviation range extends from $24.46 to $33.32, 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 GIC pl curve questions

What does a GIC ATM straddle cost today?
Using current GIC pricing (53.5% ATM IV, 34-day front expiration, $28.89 spot), an at-the-money long straddle (long call + long put at the same strike) carries an approximate combined premium near $3.77 per spread. Breakevens land at roughly $32.66 on the upside and $25.12 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 GIC 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.