Moving On!
Weekend Update
Every week this strategy produces results worth talking about. This week’s spotlight: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
On March 13th, with NCLH trading at $19.70, I sold the $16.00 put — a 19% buffer below the market price — and collected premium for a trade targeting 36% annualized. The stock never came close to threatening our strike. By April 6th, with the position sitting well in profit, I made the call to close it early.
Why close early when things were going well? Because we’re living through a stretch of genuine geopolitical turbulence — the kind that can produce sharp, unexpected market swings. With a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran now dominating the headlines, there’s more uncertainty in the air than usual, and holding for the last few dollars of extrinsic value simply wasn’t worth the added exposure. Protecting a winning position is every bit as important as opening a good one.
“I enjoy the simplicity you use to display and explain your strategy.”
— Phillip, XTRA Dividends Subscriber
Packing Up, Moving On, And What It Has to Do With Trading
It’s that time of year. After a beautiful, warm Arizona winter, we’re packing up and pointing the car north toward our home in Washington State. It’s a biannual ritual, and like most rituals, it involves a lot more preparation than it looks like from the outside.
Leaving a house vacant for six months means thinking through every scenario: weather anomalies, power outages, security, rodents making themselves at home in places they weren’t invited. You have to anticipate problems you can’t fully predict and put systems in place before you leave, because once you’re gone, you’re gone.
Sound familiar? That’s exactly how I approach every trade. Before I sell a put, I’ve already thought through the scenarios. What if the stock drops 10%? What if it gets assigned? What’s my roll strategy? What’s my exit plan? The preparation happens before the trade is placed — not during. That’s what subscribers are really paying for when they join XTRA Dividends: the research, the planning, the systematic thinking that happens before a position ever gets opened. I do that work so you don’t have to scramble later.
Now if only I could find someone to manage my Arizona house while I’m away with the same level of care. I’m still working on that one.
📊 MARKET SNAPSHOT — Week in Review
Markets put in a strong week overall, though Friday saw a bit of a reversal. The S&P 500 snapped its seven-session winning streak to end the week, but still finished up 3.6%. The Nasdaq led the major indexes with a 4.68% weekly gain. The Dow dipped 0.56% on Friday but still closed the week up slightly over 3%.
The primary catalyst driving the rally was the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, paired with the partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a waterway that carries a significant share of global oil shipments. Markets responded positively to the easing of tensions, though the situation remains fluid and bears watching.
Looking Ahead — Week of April 13, 2026
Several market-moving events land on the calendar next week:
Bank Earnings Kick-Off — The first major wave of Q1 earnings reports arrives, led by the big banks. Guidance and loan quality commentary will set the tone for the season.
Producer Price Index (PPI) — Tuesday, April 14. As a leading indicator of inflation, this data point will be closely watched for any signal that price pressures are re-accelerating — or continuing to cool.
IMF Spring Meetings — Policymakers from around the world convene, with potential commentary on trade, tariffs, and global growth that could move currency markets and international sentiment.
The Iran Situation — The ceasefire is two weeks old before it starts. Any escalation or breakdown in negotiations could send volatility spiking quickly.
What this means for XTRA Dividends:
Elevated uncertainty tends to keep option premiums healthy — which is exactly the environment this strategy is built for. When investors are nervous, they pay more for protection, and that translates into better premium when we sell puts on solid companies with meaningful buffers. We don’t need to predict the outcome. We just need to be positioned sensibly.
Ready to see exactly what’s happening inside the portfolio?
The subscriber section below covers this week’s new positions, upcoming expirations, and the active management decisions in play right now.
🔒 SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE — Portfolio Update & Outlook