Frequently Asked Questions

PowerOptions is a comprehensive options analysis platform that helps investors find, analyze, and manage option trading strategies. It provides tools including SmartSearchXL for scanning thousands of strategies, a Position Portfolio for tracking trades, Detailed Stock Research, Symbol Lookup, Recommended Lists, and scheduled email reports.

Use the top navigation menu to access the main areas of the site. The Tool Menu provides quick access to all available tools. From any search results page you can jump to stock details, column configuration, or add positions directly to your portfolio.

SmartSearchXL is PowerOptions' advanced search engine that scans thousands of option strategies in real time. You can save custom searches, configure which result columns are displayed, and schedule results to be emailed to you daily or weekly.

Click the Column Configuration button on any SmartSearchXL or OneStrike results page. From there you can:

• Check or uncheck individual stock-related and option-related columns
• Use Select ALL or Select NONE for quick toggling
• Click Change Column Order to rearrange columns with the up/down buttons
• Click Reset to Default Columns to restore the original configuration

Column settings are saved per strategy and persist across sessions.

Yes. The Search By Email feature lets you schedule any saved SmartSearchXL search to be emailed to you. Choose from daily delivery or specific weekdays, and select the time (EST) that works best for you.

This feature is available to Delayed, Real-Time, and Premium subscribers. Be sure to add support@poweropt.com to your allowed senders list to ensure delivery.

On the Search By Email page, click the Cancel All Emailed Reports button. This removes all scheduled reports across all strategies. You'll be asked to confirm before the action is completed.

PowerOptions supports over 20 option strategies:

• Income strategies: Covered Calls, Covered Puts, Naked Calls, Naked Puts, Covered Combinations
• Spread strategies: Bull Put Credit Spreads, Bear Call Credit Spreads, Bull Call Debit Spreads, Bear Put Debit Spreads
• Hedging strategies: Collars, Short Collars, Free-Form Collars, Married Puts, Married Calls
• Volatility strategies: Long/Short Straddles, Long/Short Strangles, Iron Condors, Iron Butterflies
• Calendar strategies: Call Calendar Spreads, Put Calendar Spreads
• Advanced strategies: Jade Lizards, Custom Spreads

A Custom Spread lets you build any multi-leg option or stock position that doesn't fit one of the predefined strategy templates. You can add multiple legs with any combination of stock shares, calls, and puts, specifying buy/sell direction, quantity, strike, and expiration for each leg independently.

The Position Portfolio is a virtual portfolio tool that lets you track option and stock positions. Key features include:

• Create and manage multiple named portfolios
• Track cash on hand and starting basis
• Add positions for any supported strategy
• Give positions custom names and descriptions
• Set up automated price alerts when adding positions

Quick Add lets you insert a position directly from SmartSearchXL or OneStrike results into your portfolio. When you click the Quick Add button:

1. Choose which portfolio to add the position to (or create a new one)
2. The stock and option symbols are pre-filled from the search results
3. Review and adjust quantities, prices, and dates
4. Optionally set up alerts and add a position name/description
5. Submit to save the position

When adding a new position, PowerOptions suggests relevant alerts based on the strategy type. Suggested alerts may include price targets, percentage moves, and other conditions. Alerts marked as Default are pre-selected based on common usage for that strategy. You can check or uncheck any suggested alert before submitting the position.

The Detailed Stock Researcher displays comprehensive data for any stock or index:

• Price data: Last price, change, percent change, previous close, open
• Volume data: Current volume, average volume, percent of average volume
• Fundamental data: P/E ratio, dividend yield, EPS growth
• Range data: Today's high/low, 52-week high/low, percent of range
• Other: Shares outstanding, last split date and ratio, trade time

For optionable stocks, the tool also shows total option volume, call and put open interest, and links to the options chain.

Use the Symbol Lookup tool to search by company or index name. You can search for names that begin with or contain your search term. Results show up to 100 matches sorted by stock volume, and indicate whether each stock is optionable (with option volume and open interest if available).

• End-of-Day (EOD): Prices from the most recent market close. Data is updated once per evening after trading ends.
• Delayed: Prices with a 20-minute delay during market hours. Suitable for research and analysis that doesn't require live pricing.
• Real-Time / Premium: Live prices updated continuously while markets are open. Recommended for active traders making time-sensitive decisions.

Visit the Upgrade page to see available plans. You can upgrade from End-of-Day to Delayed, Real-Time, or Premium at any time. The upgrade takes effect immediately and your billing is prorated.

Recommended Lists are curated watchlists of option strategies. There are several types:

• Personal: Private lists visible only to you
• Sponsor: Shared lists created by your sponsor leader (requires sponsor password)
• Group: Shared lists created by your group leader (requires group password)
• Universal: Lists created by administrators and visible to all users

Email us at support@poweropt.com. Our support team is available during market hours and typically responds within one business day.