Shares of small-cap Molycorp (NYSE: MCP), a development stage company that engages in the production and sale of rare earth oxides, have been hit hard in the past two years. But it appears a price bottom has formed.

Cheap is a relative term, but with downside risk of zero and unlimited upside potential, I think Molycorp stock qualifies.

As of this writing, Molycorp is trading around $6.30 a share. A bottom base pattern is forming around the extreme lows near $6 a share, with lower prices but also lower volatility, in what is termed “bullish divergence.”

If you are comfortable holding on to this inexpensive stock to wait for a potential recovery, then selling put options could allow you to collect income while you wait to get into the stock at an 11% discount.#-ad_banner-#

Cash-Secured Put Selling Strategy
While the typical investor might use a limit order to buy a stock or exchange-traded fund (ETF) at a designated price or lower, the options trader can do one better by selling a cash-secured put.

This strategy has the same mathematical risk profile as a covered call. With put selling, there is an obligation to buy the stock at the strike price if it is assigned, allowing you to get into the stock at a discount. In fact, the true entry cost basis is even lower with the subtraction of the premium you earned from selling the puts.

And if the stock is not below the strike price at expiration, then the premium received is all profit. In other words, you’re getting paid not to own the stock.

There are two rules traders must follow to be successful at selling put options.

Rule One: Only sell puts on stocks you want to own.
The intention of this strategy is to be assigned the stock as a long-term investment (each option contract represents 100 shares). So make sure you have the funds in your account to buy the stock at the options strike price if a sell-off occurs. Paying in full ensures that no additional money is needed to hold the stock for potentially many months or even years until a price recovery.

Rule Two: Sell either of the front two option expiration months to take advantage of time decay.
Collect premium every month on put sales until you are assigned shares at a cost-reduced basis. Every month that you keep the premium is money subtracted from your entry price.

Action to Take –> Sell to open Molycorp March 6 Puts at $0.40 or better.

This cash-secured put sale would assign long shares at $5.60 ($6 strike minus $0.40 premium), which is about 11% below Molycorp’s current price, costing you $560 per option sold. Remember: Only sell this put if you want to own Molycorp at a discount to the current price. If you are assigned the shares, an April covered call can be sold against the stock to lower your cost basis even further.

If the stock does not fall below the strike price before expiration, then you keep the premium you collected, essentially getting paid not to buy the stock.

This article originally appeared on ProfitableTrading.com:
Earn Income While You Wait for a Comeback in This $6 Stock