Definition of strike price
:an agreed-upon price at which an option contract can be exercised — called also
striking price
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strike price
noun
Updated on: 13 Oct 2017
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First Known Use of strike price
1972
Financial Definition of STRIKE PRICE
strike price
What It Is
The strike price is the specified price at which an option contract can be exercised.
How It Works
Strike prices are fixed in the option contract. For call options, the option holder has the right to purchase the underlying stock at that strike price up to the expiration date. For put options, the strike price is the price at which the underlying stock can be sold.
For example, an investor purchases a call option contract on shares of ABC Company at a $5 strike price. Over the life of the option contract, the holder has the right to exercise the option and purchase 100 shares of ABC for $500. If the price of ABC shares rises to $10, the option holder can lock in a $500 profit by exercising the option because it allows him to buy shares at $5 and sell them for $10 in the open market.
Why It Matters
The strike price is one of the most important elements of options pricing. At the expiration date, the difference between the stock’s market price and the option's strike price represents the amount of profit gained by exercising the option.
Source: Investing Answers
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