SPDR S&P 500 ETFSPYTOP PICKAug 18, 2015Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 08, 2026. Market Open.
Major concern about this one is that it's really a technology ETF, given that 8 or 9 of the top 10 names are tech names. 40% of the S&P 500 is tech or tech-oriented, and we've never before seen this concentration. That's quite a bit of risk with so much exposure to one sector. Index is not as safe as it was 10 years ago.
Technology in this new world is exciting, but it's not cheap. Though earnings growth is very strong, how far will we let PE's go before we say they're too expensive?
He did a put spread on May 2, the 500-520 end of July put spread. He wasn't concerned about NVDA or tech, but to the market's reaction broadly to Nividia's earnings. Rally broadening in the S&P had not happened. You're limiting your downside with a spread. He bought back the 500 put, which leads him long only the 599 outs.
(Covered Calls. He is playing the last half of the year by taking some option premiums in with he expects that these 3 Top Picks will hold their own or rise. Yield on the total return is pretty attractive. Thinks we could be in a flat market until the end of the year.) The largest ETF in the US. Very liquid and very cheap to own. Trading at around $210 a share and he is selling a January $220 Call Option. Selling this will give you roughly $2 and you get $2 in dividends between now and January. If the stock is called away your return is better than 6.5%. If it stays the same you make just under 2%.