What Is the Concept of ‘Opportunity Cost’ in the Context of Early Exercise?

Opportunity cost in early exercise is the value that is forfeited by choosing to exercise the option now instead of holding it. For an American call, the opportunity cost is the remaining time value that is lost.

For a put, it is the potential for the underlying asset to fall even further, yielding a greater profit, offset by the interest that could have been earned on the exercise proceeds.

What Is the Opportunity Cost of Exercising a Deep In-the-Money American Call Option Early?
Why Is Exercising an American Call Option Early to Capture a Large In-the-Money Value Still Usually a Poor Decision?
What Happens to the Option’s Time Value Immediately after an Early Exercise?
Why Is Early Exercise of a Call Option on a Non-Dividend-Paying Asset Generally Suboptimal?
Why Is Early Exercise of a Deep ITM Call Option Often Not Optimal?
Under What Conditions Is It Never Optimal to Exercise an American Call Option Early?
Why Is Early Exercise Generally Not Optimal for an American Call Option on a Non-Dividend-Paying Asset?
Why Is an American Call Option on a Non-Dividend-Paying Stock Rarely Exercised Early?

Glossar