iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IMCG) Covered Calls
The iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the Morningstar US Mid Cap Broad Growth Index. The fund provides targeted exposure to mid-sized U.S. companies whose earnings are expected to grow at an above-average rate relative to the broader market. By focusing on firms with strong fundamentals and growth potential, IMCG offers a low-cost vehicle for investors seeking to tilt their portfolios toward the mid-cap growth factor.
You can sell covered calls on iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF 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 IMCG (prices last updated Mon 4:16 PM ET):
| iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IMCG) Stock Quote | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last | Change | Bid | Ask | Volume | P/E | Market Cap |
| 76.01 | -0.99 | 75.00 | 76.41 | 382K | - | 0.6 |
| Covered Calls For iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IMCG) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expiration | Strike | Call Bid | Net Debit | Return If Flat |
Annualized Return If Flat |
|
| Apr 17 | 76 | 1.30 | 75.11 | 1.2% | 23.1% | |
| May 15 | 76 | 2.10 | 74.31 | 2.3% | 17.9% | |
| Subscribers get access to the full covered call chain, and more features. | ||||||
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The iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IMCG) is designed to capture the performance of mid-capitalization U.S. equities that exhibit strong growth characteristics. The fund tracks the Morningstar US Mid Cap Broad Growth Index, which selects securities based on a variety of metrics, including above-average earnings growth, sales growth, cash flow growth, and book value growth. This systematic approach ensures that the fund remains focused on companies in their "expansion phase"—those that have outgrown the volatility of small-caps but still offer more significant growth potential than mature large-cap firms.
The fund is passively managed and market-capitalization-weighted, meaning that the largest companies within the mid-cap growth universe have the greatest influence on the portfolio’s performance. Its holdings are diversified across several sectors, with heavy concentrations typically found in Information Technology, Industrials, and Healthcare. Because the fund targets growth-oriented firms, it often trades at higher price-to-earnings multiples than the broad market and may experience higher volatility during periods of rising interest rates or economic shifts that favor value stocks.
Competition
The mid-cap growth segment is highly competitive, with several established and optionable ETFs serving as direct rivals. IMCG’s primary competitors include the iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF and the Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF. Other notable optionable alternatives in this space include the First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund, which uses a quantitative selection process, and the iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF, which tracks a different underlying benchmark of mid-sized growth companies.
Strategic Outlook and Innovation
The strategic appeal of IMCG lies in its combination of precise growth exposure and an ultra-low expense ratio, making it a highly efficient "building block" for diversified portfolios. As the U.S. economy evolves, mid-cap growth companies are often at the forefront of technological and industrial innovation, providing the fund with exposure to the market leaders of tomorrow. The fund’s methodology allows it to capture these firms during their most productive years of capital appreciation, providing a balanced risk-return profile that sits between the stability of large-caps and the high-octane growth of small-caps.
Innovation for the fund is centered on the rigorous data-driven methodology provided by Morningstar to define the mid-cap growth universe. By periodically rebalancing and reconstituting the index, the fund ensures it exits positions that no longer meet growth criteria while adding new, emerging mid-cap leaders. This disciplined, rules-based approach removes human bias and ensures the portfolio stays true to its growth mandate. As investors increasingly seek low-cost, transparent ways to target specific factors, IMCG’s role as a liquidity-rich and cost-effective vehicle remains central to its long-term growth strategy within the iShares ecosystem.
| 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? IMAX Covered Calls | IMKTA 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.
