Options vs Warrants

• An option is a contract between 2 parties giving the holder the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an Underlying Asset at a pre-decided strike price and a fixed date in the future as well.
• On the other hand, a stock warrant is on similar lines to a stock option since it gives the right to purchase a company’s at a specific price and date. However, a stock warrant is issued by the company itself, and additional new shares are also issued by the firm for the purpose of the transaction.

In this article, we discuss the differences between Options and Warrants in detail.

Let us understand the differences between Options vs. Warrants through infographics.

Both Options vs. warrants are treated on similar lines and include the following similarities:

• Both instruments offer the holders an opportunity to enhance their exposure and take advantage of the stock market movements without possession of the asset.
• They confer on their holders the right to purchase a specific quantum of the principal asset at a fixed price and specified date.
• Both represent a right and not any control over the principal asset unless it has been exercised.
• Factors influencing the value of an option or a warrant are the same such as the Underlying stock price, strike price, or the Exercise Price, Time to expiry, implied volatility, and risk-free interest rate.
• Both have the same components in terms of pricing, i.e., Intrinsic Value and Time Value of money. It is to be noted that.
  1. Intrinsic value is the difference between the price of the principal stock and the exercise or strike price. This value can be Zero but never negative.
  2. Time value is the difference between the price of the option/warrant and its intrinsic value.

Despite the above, there are the following differences between Options vs. Warrants in detail:

1. The option is an agreement wherein buyers possess the right but not the obligation to buy or sell stock at a specified price and date. Conversely, a warrant is an instrument registered to provide the buyer the right to get a specified number of shares at a pre-decided date and prices.
2. Options are standard contracts and are required to adhere to rules governing maturity, duration, size of the contract, and exercise price, whereas warrants are securities (non-standardized), making it flexible.
3. Options are issued by the exchange, such as U.S. Chicago Board Options Exchange, whereas warrants get issued by a specific company.
4. A stock option is a secondary market instrument as trading takes place between investors, whereas a warrant is a primary market instrument since it is issued by the company itself.
5. In options trading, the selling party writes the options while warrants have a single issuer responsible for the rights offered.
6. The maturity period also differs with options having until two years and warrants having a maturity of 15 years.
7. The underlying assets with respect to options are Domestic shares, bonds, and indices, whereas warrants shall have securities such as Currencies and international shares.
8. In terms of making a profit, the company does not receive any direct benefit, which ultimately is passed on to the investor. Conversely, the issue of warrants is to encourage the sale of shares and offer a hedge against fall in the value of the firm, which can lead to a dip in the share price of the company.
9. Options do not involve the issuance of new stock, but warrants result in dilution creating issuance of new stock.
10. Trading in options involves following principles of a futures market, and warrants follow the principle of cash markets.
11. Options can be issued independently, but warrants are combined with other instruments, such as bonds.
12. The taxation rules applicable will differ. Stock options are subject to rules governing compensatory items. Warrants, on the other hand, are not compensatory in nature and hence taxable in nature.
13. Options can be bought/shorted/written involving multiple trading and hedging strategies, whereas warrants cannot be easily sold. They are largely used by speculators for stock replacement due to possible hedging.
14. Margin calls are applicable in options since minimum balance is required for options trading but not so in case of warrants.

In a nutshell, both these derivatives are essential for businesses permitting investors to consider investing in the stock without holding the security. The minute details of both instruments need to be studied and accordingly weigh the pros and cons for the same before considering the final decision from a financial perspective. Options can be considered as compensation mediators, whereas warrants are targeted towards aiding the firm in raising capital, debt, or equity securities, and improving the deal for investors. Both instruments have their level of risks, and investors have to carefully understand the derivatives and consider the tax consequences before making use of them.

The risk appetite and long-term financial objective of the investor have to be assessed and maintain caution accordingly. Warrants are highly leveraged and speculative instruments, and hence cautious approach should be taken, and in contrast, options involve less risk with high growth potential with a limited capital requirement.

This has been a guide to the top differences between Options vs. Warrants. Here we also discuss the Options and Warrants with examples, infographics, and comparison tables. You may also have a look at the following articles for gaining further knowledge in Derivatives –

• Types of Stock Warrant
• Stock Options
• European vs. American Option