Options Trading Tutorial

What's the difference between stock options and unrestricted stock?

I've received a bonus from my employer as unrestricted stock options which will vest in one year. Additionally, when I started with the company, they gave me a small amount of shares as options which vest in four years. What does all of this mean, and what are the differences between the two? Please answer in layman's terms if you can---I'm no good with following money terminology.

Public Comments

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2. You may have received a call option from your employer. Basically, a call option entitles you to buy a stock at the strike price as stated in the stock option, within a specified period of time, in your case, 1 year. Assuming that the current stock price is $100, and your call option has a strike price of $100, with expiration of 1 year. When the stock's price rises, lets say $120, you can simply use the call option to buy the stock at the strike price, which is $100, and sell the stock back to the market at $120. Your profit is then $20. You can do this as long as it is before the stated expiration date, which you should check yourself. Upon expiration, your call option is cease to exist and will have zero value.