MLM P&L Curve

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM) operates in the Basic Materials sector, specifically the Construction Materials industry, with a market capitalization near $34.63B, listed on NYSE, employing roughly 9,400 people, carrying a beta of 1.14 to the broader market. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Led by C. Howard Nye, public since 1994-02-17.

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
Basic Materials
Industry
Construction Materials
Market Cap
$34.63B
Employees
9.4K
IPO Date
1994-02-17
CEO
C. Howard Nye
Beta
1.14

At the current $556.80 spot price with 28.7% ATM implied volatility and 34 days to the front expiration, an at-the-money long straddle carries an approximate combined premium near $39.02, producing breakevens at roughly $517.78 and $595.82. Market-implied 1-standard-deviation range extends from $510.99 to $602.61, 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 MLM pl curve questions

What does a MLM ATM straddle cost today?
Using current MLM pricing (28.7% ATM IV, 34-day front expiration, $556.80 spot), an at-the-money long straddle (long call + long put at the same strike) carries an approximate combined premium near $39.02 per spread. Breakevens land at roughly $595.82 on the upside and $517.78 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 MLM 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.