Investors seeking exposure to a broad-based index such as the Nasdaq-100 Index can trade both index options or ETF options. In this post, we will explore how index options can provide investors with access to deep liquidity and unique advantages around settlement and expiration, tax, and sizing.
Despite providing exposure to the same index, the characteristics of index and ETF options are very different. Moreover, with the launch of XND, the Nasdaq-100 Micro Index Option, investors can now access the full benefits of Index options in a retail-friendly size.
XND’s 1/100th value of the full Nasdaq-100 Index merges index options’ advantages with the sizing flexibility typically provided only by ETF options.
Index vs. ETF Options
Source: OptionsPlay
Settlement and Expiration Risk
Both index and ETF options on the Nasdaq-100 track the same underlying index; however, they have very different characteristics. One of the most significant differences is that index options do not have an underlying security, only a calculated index, whereas ETF options are listed on a tradable security.
Index options are cash-settled European-style, while ETF options are for physical delivery and American-style. Therefore, index options cannot be exercised early, which remove assignment risk entirely. Additionally, index options’ cash settlement provides investors with protections against exercise risk, whereas ETF options leave investors exposed. For investors seeking to reduce risk, index options offer a distinct advantage by eliminating both assignment and exercise risk.
Tax Advantage
For investors trading in a taxable account, index options are unique for seeking equity exposure through an option. Index options are a Section 1256 Contract taxed at 60% Longer-Term Capital gains and 40% Short-Term capital gains. Since most options contracts are held for less than one year, investors seeking exposure to the same underlying index will likely see a smaller tax bill for an index option over a similar ETF option.
Sizing Advantage
Position sizing and flexibility are paramount for investors trading accounts under $100,000. One historical advantage that ETF options such as QQQ provide over index options has been on sizing.
Investors seeking precise exposure to the index will benefit from smaller contract sizes by controlling the number of contracts traded. While a single contract of QQQ is smaller than NDX, $38,000/contract as of Nov 2021, it may no longer provide the flexibility necessary for retail traders who require a smaller trading size.
The new XND contract with a notional value of only $15,900 a contract will provide investors with better flexibility and control over their risks. With the full suite of NDX, NDXP, NQX, and XND products, investors have a wide range of flexibility for all account sizes to access the benefits of index options on the Nasdaq-100 Index.
Nasdaq-100 Index and ETF Listed Options
Source: Nasdaq
Historically, index options were out of reach for most investors, except for high-net-worth and institutional investors. ETF options do provide investors with a simple PM settled, weekly and monthly expirations in a smaller package for retail investors; however, with the introduction of Nasdaq-100 Micro Index Options (XND), you can now explore the benefits of trading index options with even more control over the size and maximize its many advantages.
3 Safe Option Strategies to execute today 
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Stock Trading vs Options Trading
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Grow a Small Options Account Consistently and Confidently
Trading index options is now made extremely affordable. Learn how you can start trading index options with a small account size through the usage of Credit Spreads.
Top 3 Strategies for Index Options
Here are the top 3 index options trading strategies that a beginner option trader with a small account size can execute.
How to Trade Index Options
Which are the popular index option strategies that a beginner option trader can execute? In this hour-long video, we do a detailed step-by-step tutorial on trading the Nasdaq vs. S&P 500 index.
Beginners Guide to Trading Index Options
Index options provide investors broad based exposure to specific sectors and indices with the benefits of diversification while removing single stock risk.
Beginners Guide to Trading Index Options
Index options provide investors broad based exposure to specific sectors and indices with the benefits of diversification while removing single stock risk.
Traders Taking Full Advantage of Multiple Option Expirations
There are strategies that are very attractive based on an option expiring in the next day or two and now those opportunities are available multiple times a week.
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