Active PutWrite Performance Summary – Q1 2021

May 13, 2021
Active PutWrite Commentary

The U.S. equity market gyrated early in the first quarter of 2021 with nearly all of its return generated after March 4. Following January’s decline, the market advanced on positive-trending developments surrounding COVID-19 paired with growing prospects for additional fiscal stimulus. Over the second half of February, increasing concerns over rising interest rates and the outlook for inflation gripped investors and the market retreated. Congress passed a new economic stimulus package in early March and the market advanced through quarter-end.
The Cboe^® Volatility Index^® (the VIX^®), averaged 23.20 in the first quarter of 2021. Average implied volatility was significantly higher than realized volatility, as measured by the standard deviation of daily returns for the S&P 500^® Index, which was 15.86% for the quarter.
Gateway’s investment team focused on patiently earning index put option time premium from expiring contracts while adjusting select positions to maintain market exposure that is consistent with the Composite’s typical profile.
The Composite’s outperformance of the PUT^SM in February nearly made up for underperformance in January and March. The Composite delivered better downside protection than the PUT^SM during the market drawdown of February 12 through March 4 and outperformed the PUT^SM from the beginning of February through quarter-end.

* The portfolio statistics reflected for the Composite are those measured by a representative account. This information represents supplemental information to the GIPS^® Composite Report. This representative account was selected as it is the largest account in the Composite. Data as of March 31, 2021, unless noted otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Sources: Morningstar Direct^SM and Bloomberg, L.P.

Active PutWrite Performance Summary – Q1 2021

Downloads:

Check Out Our Latest Perspective

Headquarters

Boston Location