Writing Put Options

At Morningstar, we are currently developing a methodology that can be used to combine fundamental research with options investing. One strategy that we think can be used relatively safely is writing put options on wide-moat companies with low or medium fair value uncertainty ratings. In other words, we wish to write put options on companies that, in our opinion, have durable competitive advantages whose fair values lie within a tightly bounded range. Using this strategy, we can generate annualized double-digit returns if the options expire worthless. Or in case the stock gets put to us, we'd end up owning stakes in wonderful businesses at attractive prices--we think it's a win-win situation.