Bear Call Spread
Also known as: Short Call Spread
Bearish or neutral — want to profit from a stock staying below a strike while defining risk with the long call at a higher strike
Risk Profile at a Glance
How to Construct the Bear Call Spread
- 1.Sell 1 call at strike A (lower)
- 2.Buy 1 call at strike B (B > A)
- 3.Same expiration
- 4.Net credit received
Understanding the Bear Call Spread
The bear call spread sells a lower-strike call and buys a higher-strike call for protection. You collect a net credit when the trade is entered — this is the maximum profit, achieved if the stock stays below the lower (short) strike at expiration. Maximum loss is the spread width minus the credit received. This is a defined-risk, credit-generating bearish strategy, far safer than a naked short call.
It thrives in flat or declining markets where the stock fails to break above the short strike. When EdgeOS signals show a bear count 1 setup with SCTR below 4, placing a bear call spread with the short strike at the upper ATR resistance level creates a high-probability short play. The credit received provides a built-in margin of safety — the stock can even rise slightly and you still keep part of the credit. This is the most capital-efficient bearish credit spread..
When to Use It — EdgeOS Signal Integration
- ✓Ideal when SCTR < 4 and EdgeOS bear count = 1 (fresh bear trigger)
- ✓Extension score at or above 0.8 with stock near the upper ATR level
- ✓Confirmed or fluid bearish trend — EMA alignment supports the short side
Today's Bear Call Spread Candidates
Updated Aug 27, 2026 · refreshes every 30 minStocks currently showing bearish EdgeOS signals that match Bear Call Spread entry conditions. SCTR > 9 (bullish breadth), extension Tight–Mod (room to run), fresh bull count 1–3.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bear Call Spread options strategy?
The bear call spread sells a lower-strike call and buys a higher-strike call for protection. You collect a net credit when the trade is entered — this is the maximum profit, achieved if the stock stays below the lower (short) strike at expiration.
When should I use the Bear Call Spread?
Bearish or neutral — want to profit from a stock staying below a strike while defining risk with the long call at a higher strike
What is the maximum loss on the Bear Call Spread?
The maximum loss is fully defined at entry: the net debit paid (for debit strategies) or the spread width minus the credit received (for credit spreads). You can never lose more than this amount.
How does the Bear Call Spread compare to similar strategies?
The Bear Call Spread is a bearish credit strategy. Compared to the Short Naked Call (bearish, credit), the Bear Call Spread has limited max risk and limited max reward. Your choice depends on your directional bias, IV environment, and risk tolerance. The TraderValue strategy comparison tool lets you see the exact payoff differences side by side.
What stocks are good Bear Call Spread candidates today?
As of Aug 27, 2026, stocks with bearish EdgeOS signals matching Bear Call Spread conditions include: HTAB (SCTR 3.9, bear b1, Ext extension); BIT (SCTR 3.9, bear b1, Tight extension); USSH (SCTR 3.9, bear b1, Ext extension). These are screened live from 3,000+ symbols and refresh every 30 minutes during market hours. See winstockoptions.com/scans for the full live list.