Episode Details

Infrastructure Capital Advisors CEO Jay Hatfield joined Steve Darling from to discuss the launch of the firm's new QVOL ETF, outlining the investment philosophy behind the fund and how it aims to provide investors with a differentiated approach to Nasdaq-focused investing. Hatfield explained that QVOL was created to give investors exposure to high-quality growth companies listed on the Nasdaq while avoiding what he described as the “dogs of the Nasdaq” — larger companies that may have slower growth prospects or valuations that Infrastructure Capital believes do not adequately justify their future earnings potential. Rather than simply replicating the Nasdaq 100 Index, the fund employs a more selective methodology designed to identify businesses offering what Hatfield considers “growth at a reasonable price.” A key component of this process is the use of PEG ratios, which compare a company’s price-to-earnings ratio with its expected earnings growth rate. According to Hatfield, this metric helps identify companies that combine strong growth potential with attractive valuations. The portfolio currently holds approximately 55 companies drawn from the Nasdaq 100 universe. Hatfield noted that the selection process excludes businesses that the firm’s proprietary models view as overvalued or lacking sufficient growth characteristics. While companies such as Walmart, Costco, and Comcast may be attractive investments within other strategies, he explained that they do not necessarily fit the growth-oriented profile QVOL seeks to deliver. A major differentiator for the ETF is its income-generation strategy. Unlike many covered-call funds that write options against a broad market index, QVOL selectively writes covered calls on individual portfolio holdings. Hatfield believes this approach allows the fund to generate additional income while maintaining greater flexibility and preserving more upside participation in stocks that continue to perform well. He argued that traditional index-based covered-call strategies can often cap returns during strong market advances because they apply options broadly across the entire portfolio. By selectively targeting individual holdings based on valuation and market conditions, QVOL seeks to balance income generation with capital appreciation potential. The discussion also touched on broader market conditions and the economic outlook. Hatfield shared his view that certain segments of the economy, particularly housing and construction, are already experiencing recessionary conditions. He suggested that these trends may influence future monetary policy decisions and expressed confidence that additional interest rate increases are unlikely. According to Hatfield, easing inflation pressures and slower economic activity in key sectors could create a more favorable environment for growth-oriented equities over time. He believes investors should continue monitoring Federal Reserve policy, inflation data, and broader economic indicators as they evaluate portfolio positioning. #proactiveinvestors #QVOL #ETFInvesting #Nasdaq #GrowthStocks #CoveredCalls #IncomeInvesting #TechnologyStocks #Investing #StockMarket #InfrastructureCapital