How does "hedging" work in investing? - eviltoast

Someone turned 80k into like 1.2 million betting on Tesla calls or something and hedged with a Kamala win bet it was like 50k tesla/30k Kamala and they turned it into 1.2 million via Tesla somehow

Is it like

  • bet 1/2 on unlikely thing
  • bet 1/2 on likely thing
  • rely on gains on either side averaging out to at least ++
  • Cephalotrocity@biglemmowski.win
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    1 day ago

    From my perspective you can’t bet both sides and still expect gains on average.

    Statistically you can. Firstly, when you invest you can limit how much that could be lost right off the bat by how you invest and via what amount. For example: BUYing $20k in 2 opposing stocks, split 10k each. Max possible loss? All $20k.

    Let’s say the Index goes up 10% which suggests on average that $20k is now $22k, or $11k/stock.

    In actuality stock A loses 50% but stock B gains 60%. Had you luckily invest solely in the right stock (B) with all 20k you would have made $12k. Badly (stock A)? Lost $10k. By hedging you dilute max potential gains to mitigate catastrophic loses.