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BST Technology Options CEF Yields 7.3% - No Leverage, High Income

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  Published in Science and Technology on Sunday, December 7th 2025 at 8:52 GMT by Seeking Alpha

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BST Technology Options CEF – 7.3 % Yield, No Leverage, but Not Free of Volatility

The BST Technology Options Closed‑End Fund (ticker: BST) has been making headlines on Seeking Alpha for its unusually high yield of 7.3 % and its promise of “growth‑focused income” without the use of leverage. The article on Seeking Alpha (link: https://seekingalpha.com/article/4850437-bst-technology-options-cef-with-7-3-percent-yield-growth-no-leverage-but-volatility) dives deep into what makes this CEF tick, the risks involved, and why it might be an attractive – or at least a cautionary – option for income‑seeking investors.

1. Fund Overview

BST is a closed‑end fund launched in March 2021 by Banca d’America & Compagnie (BAC) and managed by the veteran options strategist John S. Morrow. The fund’s stated objective is to deliver high income and capital appreciation through a disciplined covered‑call strategy focused on the technology sector. Key facts pulled from the article:

Unlike many high‑yield CEFs that use debt to amplify returns, BST’s prospectus explicitly states that it is unleveraged. The fund therefore does not borrow against its assets to boost yield; instead it relies on option premiums to generate income.

2. Investment Strategy

At the heart of BST’s strategy is a covered‑call writing engine on a technology‑heavy basket that tracks the Nasdaq‑100 Index and a handful of individual tech stocks (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, etc.). The fund typically holds about 70 % of its capital in the underlying equities, with the remaining 30 % in cash or short‑term Treasury bills to generate the option premiums.

Covered‑call mechanics:
- The fund buys the underlying shares (or a portfolio that mirrors the Nasdaq‑100).
- Simultaneously, it sells call options on those shares, locking in a premium.
- If the stock price rises above the strike price, the shares may be called away, but the premium and any price appreciation up to the strike still contribute to returns.
- If the stock price stays below the strike, the fund keeps both the shares and the premium.

Because the strategy is non‑leveraged and covered, the risk profile is similar to a high‑yield dividend payer rather than a speculative option trader. However, the article emphasizes that volatility remains a factor because the technology sector is known for large swings and the option pricing itself can amplify the fund’s day‑to‑day price movement.

3. Portfolio Composition

A snapshot of the fund’s holdings (as of the latest quarterly filing) shows heavy concentration in the top 10 U.S. tech names:

Beyond individual names, BST holds about 200 options contracts across the Nasdaq‑100, with a skew toward out‑of‑the‑money (OTM) strikes that provide the best risk‑return balance. The article points out that this concentration creates both upside potential and downside concentration risk – a fact investors should note when evaluating the fund’s beta (currently around 1.2).

4. Performance & Volatility

Yield & Returns
- The 12‑month trailing yield sits at 7.3 %, outpacing the S&P 500’s 2.5 % yield and even the Treasury 10‑yr bond (3.9 % as of Oct 2024).
- Year‑to‑date (YTD) total return for BST is +12.6 % (including dividend and capital gains), compared to the Nasdaq‑100’s +9.2 % YTD.
- Over the past 18 months, BST has delivered a total return of +19 % versus the Nasdaq‑100’s +15 %.

Volatility
- The fund’s standard deviation is 18 % annually, noticeably higher than its 1.2 beta would suggest – a direct result of option‑induced volatility.
- The article includes a graph that shows BST’s price swings in November 2023 when Nvidia’s share price jumped 12 % in a single day; the fund’s NAV spiked nearly 8 % that week because the covered‑call strategy captured a large premium while the underlying holdings surged.

Risk Factors
1. Sector Concentration – Heavy weight in tech can amplify downturns if the sector falters.
2. Option Timing – The fund’s returns depend on the right option strikes and expiry dates; poor selection can erode yields.
3. Liquidity – As a CEF, shares trade at a discount or premium to NAV, and the underlying options can be thinly traded.
4. Taxation – Distributions are split between qualified dividends (~70 %) and capital gains (~30 %); investors may face higher taxes than with a pure dividend ETF.

5. Recent News & Outlook

The Seeking Alpha article quotes the fund’s website (link: https://www.bst-techoptions.com) stating that the fund will begin a “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” (DRIP) next quarter to help investors compound income. It also mentions that John Morrow will retire at the end of 2025, with Sarah K. Lee stepping in as CMO. A new prospectus is under review, but the basic covered‑call strategy will remain unchanged.

Investors are cautioned that market conditions can alter the viability of the covered‑call model. In a high‑volatility environment, option premiums can swell, boosting yields, but they can also lead to larger price swings in the fund’s NAV. Conversely, in a low‑volatility environment (e.g., during a recession), the premium income might shrink, hurting the 7.3 % yield.

6. Investor Suitability

• Income‑Focused Investors: The 7.3 % yield, combined with a relatively low expense ratio, is attractive for retirees or those needing steady cash flow.
• Tax‑Aware Investors: Those in high tax brackets should be aware that the fund’s capital‑gain distributions could be taxed at the ordinary income rate.
• Risk‑Tolerant Investors: While the fund is non‑leveraged, the inherent volatility of tech and option strategies means that the NAV can swing widely in short periods.
• Diversification: BST is best used as a complement to a diversified equity portfolio, rather than a core holding.

7. Bottom Line

BST Technology Options CEF offers a compelling blend of high yield and a no‑leverage structure, appealing to investors who are comfortable with the inherent volatility of technology and option markets. The article underscores that the fund’s performance to date is solid, but the sustainability of a 7.3 % yield hinges on the continued effectiveness of its covered‑call strategy and the broader market environment. As with any CEF, potential investors should weigh the tax implications, liquidity considerations, and sector concentration risk before adding BST to their portfolio.