It looks like the summer of 2013 could be a repeat of last summer with extreme volatility in crop prices thanks to more potential drought concerns. Little, if any snow cover or moisture to replenish the soil across much of the Midwest leaves the season ahead vulnerable to another price shock. 

Major agricultural chemical producer DuPont (NYSE: DD) is currently sitting at the low end of its two-year trading range from $42 to $56. The chart pattern targets an $8 move from the breakdown point at $50 to new multi-year highs at $58. Only a close below the $40 support level on a weekly basis would negate the bullish trend.

The $58 target is almost 30% higher than current prices, but traders who use a stock substitution strategy could make triple-digit returns on a move to that level.#-ad_banner-#

One major advantage of using long call options rather than buying shares is putting up much less to control 100 shares — that’s the power of leverage. But with all of the potential strike and expiration combinations, choosing an option can be a daunting task.

Simply put, you want to buy a high-probability option that has enough time to be right, so there are two rules traders should follow:

Rule One: Choose an option with 70%-plus probability

Delta is a measurement of how well an option follows the movement in the underlying security. It is important to buy options that pay off from a modest price move in the stock or ETF rather than those that only make money on the infrequent price explosion.

Any trade has a 50/50 chance of success. Buying in-the-money options increases that probability. Delta also approximates the odds that the option will be in the money at expiration. In-the-money options are more expensive, but they’re worth it, as your chances of success are mathematically superior to buying cheap, out-of-the-money options that rarely pay off.

For example, with Dupont trading at about $44.75 at the time of this writing, an in-the-money $40 strike call currently has $4.75 in real or intrinsic value. The remainder of any premium is the time value of the option.

Rule Two: Buy more time until expiration than you may need — at least three to six months — for the trade to develop

Time is an investor’s greatest asset when you have completely limited the exposure risks. Traders often do not buy enough time for the trade to achieve profitable results. Nothing is more frustrating than being right about a move only after the option has expired.

I recommend the Dupont Jan 2014 40 Calls at $6.50 or less.

A close below $40 in the stock on a weekly basis or the loss of half of the option premium would trigger an exit. (Note: The 52-week low is $41.67.) If you do not use a stop, the maximum loss is still limited to the $650 or less paid per option contract. The upside, on the other hand, is unlimited. And the January 2014 options give the bull trend over a year to develop.

This trade breaks even at $46.50 ($40 strike plus $6.50 option premium). That is less than $2 above Dupont’s current price. If shares hit the upside breakout target of $58, then the option would deliver triple-digit gains.

Action to Take –> Buy Dupont Jan 2014 40 Calls at $6.50 or less. Set stop-loss at $3.25. Set initial price target at $18 for a potential 177% gain in 13 months.

This article originally appeared on TradingAuthority.com:
Charts Say This Trade Could Return a Potential 177%