Project Overview
This section provides a detailed look at the purpose and functionality of the Portfolio and Options Tracker.
Purpose
The Portfolio and Options Tracker was created to provide retail investors with a comprehensive desktop application that simulates a realistic brokerage account experience. This tool bridges the gap between simple portfolio tracking and professional trading platforms by offering sophisticated options management, real-time market data integration, and intelligent automation features.
- NOTE: This tool can now be downloaded directly as an exe below. It is for Windows only and there is normally a terminal window open while initially building cache. It should launch within 20-30 seconds.
- Download
Core Functionality
Portfolio Management
- Real-time stock tracking with live market prices via Yahoo Finance API
- Complete purchase history with dates and cost basis tracking
- Comprehensive gain/loss calculations showing both dollar amounts and percentages
- Intelligent average cost basis calculation for multiple purchases of the same stock
Cash Management System
- Realistic cash requirements enforcing sufficient funds before stock purchases
- Automatic cash flow management with proceeds from stock sales
- Manual cash management capabilities for deposits and withdrawals
- Complete transaction tracking with automatic deductions and credits
Advanced Options Trading
- Covered call creation with 100-share requirement validation
- Automatic premium collection that adds option premiums to cash balance
- Contract expiration tracking with real-time countdown timers
- Intelligent automatic exercise handling at 3 PM on expiration dates
- Manual exercise capability through “Call Away” functionality
- Smart in-the-money detection with automatic exercise when stock price ≥ strike + $0.01
Intelligent Dividend Management
- Automatic dividend detection scanning for announced dividends on portfolio stocks
- Historical dividend recovery crediting missed dividends from the past 6 months
- Smart eligibility verification ensuring dividends are only credited if stock was owned before ex-dividend date
- Real-time dividend processing with automatic payments on scheduled dates
- Manual dividend tracking with option to add custom dividend entries
Trading Restrictions & Safety
- Share segregation clearly separating available shares from those in option contracts
- Overselling prevention ensuring shares tied up in covered calls cannot be sold
- Comprehensive contract tracking showing which shares are committed to options
- Realistic trading limitations that mimic actual brokerage account restrictions
Technical Features
Modern User Interface
- Dark and light theme toggle using Sun Valley TTK theme
- Organized layout with dedicated sections for stocks, options, cash, and dividends
- Real-time updates with automatic portfolio value refreshing
- Comprehensive information displays for all positions
- Robust error handling with clear messages for invalid operations
Data Persistence & Reliability
- Automatic saving with all data stored in local text files
- Multiple specialized data files for portfolio, options, cash, and dividends
- Session persistence ensuring data survives between application restarts
- Simple file format enabling easy backup and manual editing when needed
Benefits
- Realistic Trading Experience: Simulates actual brokerage account restrictions and requirements
- Risk Management: Prevents common trading errors through built-in safety mechanisms
- Comprehensive Tracking: Monitors all aspects of portfolio performance including dividends and options
- Automated Processing: Handles complex option expirations and dividend payments automatically
- Educational Value: Teaches proper covered call strategies and cash management principles
- Data Security: All data stored locally with full user control and privacy
Technology Stack
- Frontend: Python Tkinter with Sun Valley TTK theme
- Data Source: Yahoo Finance API via yfinance library
- Data Storage: Local text files for persistence
- Additional Libraries: matplotlib, numpy for calculations and visualizations
This application serves as both a practical portfolio management tool and an educational platform for understanding options trading, making it ideal for retail investors looking to advance their trading sophistication while maintaining proper risk management practices.