First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (FYX) Covered Calls
The First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund is an investment fund that tracks the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Small Cap Core Index. It employs a rules-based, quantitative methodology that selects stocks from the Nasdaq US Small Cap Index based on growth and value factors. The fund aims to generate alpha by over-weighting stocks with higher fundamental rankings compared to traditional cap-weighted indices.
You can sell covered calls on First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund to lower risk and earn monthly income. Born To Sell's covered call screener gives you customized search capabilities across all possible covered calls but here are a couple of examples for FYX (prices last updated Mon 4:16 PM ET):
| First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (FYX) Stock Quote | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last | Change | Bid | Ask | Volume | P/E | Market Cap |
| 116.22 | -1.32 | 113.93 | 116.85 | 17K | - | 1.0 |
| Covered Calls For First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (FYX) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expiration | Strike | Call Bid | Net Debit | Return If Flat |
Annualized Return If Flat |
|
| Apr 17 | 116 | 2.75 | 114.10 | 1.7% | 32.7% | |
| May 15 | 116 | 4.40 | 112.45 | 3.2% | 24.9% | |
| Subscribers get access to the full covered call chain, and more features. | ||||||
Want to make money with covered calls? Sign Up For A Free Trial
The First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (FYX) functions as a smart-beta investment vehicle designed to outperform broad small-cap benchmarks. Unlike traditional funds that weight companies solely by market capitalization, the AlphaDEX methodology uses a multi-factor screening process. It first selects stocks from the underlying index based on growth factors—such as price appreciation, sales growth, and earnings growth—and value factors—such as book value, cash flow, and return on assets. The selected companies are then tiered and weighted to tilt the portfolio toward those with higher fundamental scores.
This systematic, rules-based approach creates a portfolio that is more focused on fundamental quality and relative strength than a passive index. By rebalancing quarterly, the fund attempts to maintain its exposure to small-cap leaders that are exhibiting positive growth and value characteristics, making it a strategic choice for investors seeking a factor-tilted approach to the U.S. small-cap market.
Competitive Landscape
FYX operates in the highly competitive small-cap "smart-beta" and factor-tilted ETF space. Key optionable peers include the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, which is the gold standard for traditional market-cap-weighted exposure, and the Vanguard Small-Cap ETF, which offers broad, low-cost coverage. For those seeking specifically factor-based small-cap strategies, the iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF is a prominent alternative.
Strategic Outlook and Innovation
The strategy is built on the belief that fundamental analysis and multi-factor screening can systematically identify high-performing small-cap companies better than simple market weighting. The fund serves as a core or tactical building block for investors who want to capture the historically higher risk premium associated with small-cap stocks but with an added layer of fundamental discipline.
Innovation is found in the AlphaDEX methodology itself, which removes human bias from the selection process. As the small-cap market is often characterized by higher volatility and higher dispersion in returns between winners and losers, this quantitative approach provides a disciplined, rules-based framework for navigating the segment.
| Top 10 Open Interest For Apr 17 Expiration | Top 5 High Yield | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | SLV covered calls | 6. | QQQ covered calls | 1. | REPL covered calls | |
| 2. | EEM covered calls | 7. | GLD covered calls | 2. | BE covered calls | |
| 3. | NVDA covered calls | 8. | TLT covered calls | 3. | SGML covered calls | |
| 4. | KWEB covered calls | 9. | HYG covered calls | 4. | ONDS covered calls | |
| 5. | SPY covered calls | 10. | EWZ covered calls | 5. | NKE covered calls | |
Want more examples? FYT Covered Calls | G Covered Calls
Risk Disclosure: Trading options involves significant risk and is not suitable for all investors. The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Nothing contained on this site is an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, any securities or financial instruments.
Covered Call Strategy Risks: While covered call writing is often considered a conservative options strategy, it is not without risk. By selling a covered call, you are limiting your potential upside profit from the underlying stock. You remain exposed to the full downside risk of owning the underlying stock. In the event of a significant decline in the stock price, the premium received may not be sufficient to offset your losses.
No Guarantee of Performance: Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any examples, calculations, or hypothetical scenarios presented on this site are for illustrative purposes only and do not guarantee future returns or outcomes. Market conditions, liquidity, and trading system failures can affect your ability to execute trades at desired prices.
You should consult with a qualified professional advisor and conduct your own due diligence before making any investment decisions. By using this website, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own investment decisions and agree to release this site and its affiliates from any liability relating to your use of this information. See the OCC's Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options for more info.
