text: Investors considering a purchase of Regions Financial Corp (Symbol: RF) stock, but cautious about paying the going market price of $13.18/share, might benefit from considering selling puts among the alternative strategies at their disposal. One interesting put contract in particular, is the January 2019 put at the $8 strike, which has a bid at the time of this writing of 46 cents. Collecting that bid as the premium represents a 5.8% return against the $8 commitment, or a 2.7% annualized rate of return (at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost ).
  Selling a put does not give an investor access to R Regions Financial Corp sees its shares fall 39.2% and the contract is exercised (resulting in a cost basis of $7.54 per share before broker commissions, subtracting the 46 cents from $8), the only upside to the put seller is from collecting that premium for the 2.7% annualized rate of return.
  Interestingly, that annualized 2.7% figure actually exceeds the 2% annualized dividend paid by Regions Financial Corp, based on the current share price of $13.18. And yet, if an investor was to buy the stock at the going market price in order to collect the dividend, there is greater downside because the stock would have to lose 39.21% to reach the $8 strike price.
  Always important when discussing dividends is the fact that, in general, dividend amounts are not always predictable and tend to follow the ups and downs of profitability at each company. In the case of Regions Financial Corp, looking at the dividend history chart for RF below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 2% annualized dividend yield.
  Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Regions Financial Corp, and highlighting in green where the $8 strike is located relative to that history:
  The chart above, and the stock's historical volatility, can be a helpful guide in combination with fundamental analysis to judge whether selling the January 2019 put at the $8 strike for the 2.7% annualized rate of return represents good reward for the risks. We calculate the trailing twelve month volatility for Regions Financial Corp (considering the last 252 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $13.18) to be 35%. For other put options contract ideas at the various different available expirations, visit the RF.