REX AI Equity Premium Income ETF

AIPI

Market cap $396M

REX AI Equity Premium Income ETF offers a high yield but has underperformed in share price and total return versus traditional AI ETFs. AIPI's strategy of writing covered calls on AI stocks limits upside growth and provides little downside protection, making it suitable only as a supplement to diversified AI holdings. The fund's 34.8% dividend yield is attractive, but payouts are variable and primarily consist of return of capital, which may not be sustainable in declining markets.

November's top monthly pay (MoPay) dividend stocks offer high yields, with most generating annual dividends from a $1,000 investment exceeding their share price. Analyst estimates suggest the top ten MoPay equities could deliver 21.58% to 86.54% total returns by November 2026, though risks and volatility remain elevated. Twenty MoPay stocks are identified as "safer" picks, meeting the criteria of positive free cash flow yields and strong dividend coverage, serving as starting points for further research.

October's top monthly dividend stocks offer high yields, with many providing annual dividends from $1,000 invested exceeding share prices, but carry volatility risks. Banco Macro, ARMOUR Residential, and Horizon Technology Finance lead projected gains, with average net gain estimates of 39.98% on $1,000 invested. Analyst estimates suggest the five lowest-priced MoPay stocks may outperform the top ten overall, highlighting contrarian opportunities for income-focused investors.

REX AI Equity Premium Income ETF offers a high yield near 40%, but faces NAV erosion and capped upside due to its covered call strategy. Investors can preserve capital by reinvesting distributions, which makes AIPI suitable for income-focused investors seeking AI exposure, so long as AIPI continues to generate positive total returns. While GPTY has recently outperformed AIPI with more dynamic option strategies, AIPI's holdings have shown lower volatility and competitive performance in 2025.

AIPI offers high income through covered calls, appealing to investors seeking immediate yield and exposure to AI sector growth. While AIPI outperformed the S&P 500 since inception, it lagged the AIQ ETF, which shares similar holdings but no income strategy. The fund's covered call approach limits upside in strong rebounds but cushions downside during market stress, balancing risk and reward. The fund has impressed over passively managed income funds.

AIPI offers a ~35% yield by selling covered calls on volatile AI-related stocks, using a semi-dynamic laddered approach for risk/reward balance. The fund's performance has outpaced most covered call peers and matched or slightly lagged major indices, with a 22% total return since inception. High yield requires reinvestment of distributions to maintain capital, as NAV can be volatile and exposed to downside risk in market crashes.

AIPI focuses on generating high income through covered call strategies, prioritizing yield over capital appreciation for investors seeking steady payouts. The ETF writes slightly out-of-the-money calls, enhancing income in flat or declining markets but capping upside in bullish conditions. AIPI targets AI-focused companies, balancing direct AI revenue leaders with key ecosystem enablers for diversified exposure.

AIPI's performance has been disappointing, with a 23.4% price decline since inception and distributions not offsetting the price drop, raising concerns about its portfolio strategy. The fund's option strategy, blending OTM and ATM options, hasn't effectively capitalized on significant price movements in its holdings, questioning management's income generation ability. The fund's high dividend yield of 34.8% is unsustainable, with distributions primarily being a return of capital, not net investment income, indicating potential long-term issues.

The best investments endure over time, revealing weaknesses during market adversity, as seen with recent equity sell-offs due to Trump's tariff strategy. Covered-call funds, significantly impacted by market volatility, have evolved over the last decade, showing varied payouts and total returns during sell-offs. Elevated risks are associated with tariffs, currency fluctuations, and lack of diversity, particularly affecting investments tied to China and manufacturing.

Despite market volatility and a -2.8% GDP growth projection, I continue to invest, seeing short-term headwinds as opportunities for long-term gains. The Dividend Harvesting Portfolio's profitability declined by only -0.70% compared to the S&P 500's -2.8%, showcasing its resilience and effective diversification. Weekly capital allocation and reinvestment of dividends have increased the portfolio's forward projected annualized dividend income to $2,128.72, with a 25.18% return on invested capital.