# binary tree options pricing model with dividend value - How should I discount the option at?

the expected value of the option given the next period up, down values is:

$Pexp = (p Price_{next, up} + (1 - p) Price_{next, down})/R$

where p is defined as $p = \frac{\exp(-r \times \Delta t) - d}{u - d}$ w/o a dividend yield and $p = \frac{\exp(-(r - q) \times \Delta t) - d}{u-d}$ with a dividend yield

Now I know from here that R is something like $\exp(-r \times \Delta t)$ however with a continuous dividend yield of q would it be $\exp(-(r-q) \times \Delta t)$ changing in a similar way that p changes?

Wikipedia says that it souldn't be, but trying both ways the second one gives the same result as the example here, slide 22, so I think that R should change in a similar way that p changes and effectively the new risk free rate is adjusted by q.

thanks

-
shouldn't it be $exp(r \Delta t)$ and $exp((r-q)\Delta t)$ respectively ? (Confer the wikipedia-page for example) –  Probilitator Feb 19 '14 at 8:58

No the discounting factor that you use for backward induction won't change. (confer here Chapter IV)

This is only seems confusiong due to the mathematical formulation. Introducing continuous dividends basically adjusts your stock price (down) by discoutning the divididend (for it is paid out and thus dicreases the stock value). Your "risk-free" stock value at $t$ becomes $S_0 e^{r\Delta t}e^{-q \Delta t}$ instead of $S_0 e^{r\Delta t}$.

This leads to the following equation $$S_0 e^{r\Delta t}e^{-q \Delta t}=pS_0u+(1-p)S_0d$$

Solving for $p$ gives your the desired result

Also note that there are several approaches to modelling dividends in a binomial model setting. Same document as above (Chapter IV)

-
2 comments, first I think you should have a plus sign at the addition of up/down? and secondly shouldn't it be $e^{q}$ instead of $e^{-q}$? –  evan54 Feb 18 '14 at 23:33
thank you - I eddited the answer accordingly. The plus was a copy paste typo. The $-q$ is still correct but has to be incorporated differently. –  Probilitator Feb 19 '14 at 7:28