The protection isn't free. To get this "insurance," you pay a .
The primary reason investors buy puts is to hedge against a drop in a stock's value. If you own 100 shares of a company at $50 and buy a put option with a $45 strike price, you have guaranteed that you can sell your shares for at least $45. Even if the stock crashes to $10, your exit price is locked in. 2. Market Volatility and "Black Swan" Events buying a put option would protect you from
Markets can react violently to unexpected news—like poor earnings reports, geopolitical tension, or economic data. A put option acts as a safety net during these periods of high volatility, preventing a sudden market "gap down" from wiping out your portfolio gains. 3. Forced Liquidation at Low Prices The protection isn't free