I've done a fair amount of analysis regarding hedging. My simplistic view is this:
A) It costs money to hedge.
B) If you could improve your overall return by hedging, everyone would do it. If they did, hedging would become so expensive that it would be a break-even proposition at best - which is why 'A' is true.
C) If you feel your position is so risky that you require a hedge - then your position is too risky. You would be better off reducing your exposure to risk than buying protection against the risk.
D) IIRC some of those asset allocation gurus say that the best way to hit your risk tolerance level is with a small % of the higher risk stuff. That is supposedly better than a larger amount of slightly riskier stuff, but I forget the details or who said it, probably has to do with 'alpha', anyhow....
E) Because of A B and C, I will often SELL hedges, rather than buy them. Do you expect that the people selling hedges would do so w/o adequate compensation for taking the risk off your hands?
About the only time I try to hedge a position is when I don't want to sell for tax reasons, and I see a bump in the road ahead that could send the stock one way or the other. The hedge may cost less than the tax implications of selling, and I might miss the run-up if I just sell.
Now, diversification is another story. That is good, unless you have a crystal ball.
-ERD50