Suppose that Microsoft shares are trading at $ 108 per share. You own 100 shares of the stock and want to generate an income above and beyond the stock's dividend. You also believe that shares are unlikely to rise above $115.00 per share over the next month. You take a look at the call and put options for the following month and see that there's a 115.00 call trading at $0.37 per contract. So, you sell one call option and collect the $37 premium ($0.37 x 100 shares), representing a roughly four percent annualized income. If the stock rises above $115.... the option buyer will exercise the option and you will have to deliver the 100 shares of stock at $115.00 per share. You still generated a profit of $7.00 per share, but you will have missed out on any upside above $115.00 you keep the shares and the $37 in premium income. the option buyer will not exercise the option, leaving you with the shares to sell on the market, but you lose the $37 premium D you buy the shares for less than $115