Connors Investor Services

What Connors Investor Services does

Connors Investor Services, Inc. is a privately held, SEC-registered investment advisor founded in 1969 by James M. Connors in Reading, Pennsylvania and now headquartered at 1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 200 in Wyomissing, PA. The firm specializes in options-based investment strategies, principally systematic covered call writing combined with bottom-up equity selection, and has been continuously operating since the Chicago Board Options Exchange opened in 1973. Its product suite comprises the flagship Connors Covered Call strategy (since 1974, delivered via SMA and CIF structures), the Connors Small Companies small-cap equity strategy, the Small Companies Active BuyWrite hybrid product, the Connors Covered Call/Put downside-protected variant, the Connors Active Index ETF BuyWrites sleeve, and the Connors Hedged Equity Mutual Fund (ticker CVRDX) distributed via Ultimus Fund Distributors.

The firm's investment process rests on a proprietary in-house database for small-cap screening and a fundamental, company-level research workflow that incorporates management meetings, research conferences, third-party research, and corporate filings. Portfolios are typically concentrated in 25-50 individual U.S. equities with options-overlay management. The team is led by President Peter J. Connors, CFA (President since 2001) and includes multiple CFA charterholders in portfolio management roles (Robert Cagliola since 1999, Brian McCoy since 2004, Robert Hahn since 2017).

Revenue is generated through recurring asset-based management fees on Separately Managed Accounts, the Collective Investment Fund, and the mutual fund; fee schedules are disclosed only in Form ADV Part 2A. The firm serves three customer segments — high-net-worth individual investors, financial advisors and consultants (RIAs, broker-dealer representatives), and institutional investors (pension funds, endowments, foundations) — all on a domestic U.S. basis. The firm operates with 11-50 employees, has been privately held and family-controlled across generations, and has no disclosed parent company, private equity backing, or institutional ownership.

Name

Connors Investor Services

Legal name

Connors Investor Services, Inc.

Website

https://connorsinvestor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Connors Investor Services is a privately held, SEC-registered investment advisor founded in 1969 that builds and manages options-based and small-cap equity strategies for high-net-worth individuals, financial advisors and consultants, and institutional investors in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Open-End Investment Funds (525910)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Investment Management Advisory (RIA) (FSAEAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Portfolio Management–Led RIAs (Discretionary/Model-Based) (FSAAACAC)

Keywords

• Investment advisory services
• Covered call strategies
• Small-cap equity investing
• Separately managed accounts
• Hedged equity fund

Headquarters

HQ city

Reading

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Separately Managed Account (SMA) Management Fees: Connors manages investment strategies in the form of Separately Managed Accounts since 1974. Each client account is managed as a standalone portfolio with tailored investment plans. Fees are clearly defined and transparent to clients.
2. Mutual Fund Management: The firm offers the Connors Hedged Equity Fund (CVRDX), a mutual fund structure that provides investment management services to retail and institutional investors with Morningstar 4-star rating and Silver Medalist status.
3. Collective Investment Fund (CIF): The Connors Covered Call strategy is also offered via a Collective Investment Fund structure, providing institutional investors access to the options-based strategy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Connors Investor Services is a boutique SEC-registered investment advisor that manages options-based and small-cap equity strategies for individual investors, financial advisors, and institutional clients. Strategies are packaged as Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs), a Collective Investment Fund (CIF), and the Connors Hedged Equity Mutual Fund (CVRDX), using covered call writing, protective puts, and proprietary small-cap research to generate income and reduce volatility.

Product overview

Connors Investor Services offers a suite of options-based and small-cap equity investment strategies delivered primarily through Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) and a mutual fund. The flagship offerings include the Connors Covered Call strategy (since 1974), the Connors Small Companies strategy, and newer variants like Small Companies Active BuyWrite and the Connors Hedged Equity Fund (CVRDX). Strategies focus on covered call writing to generate income and reduce volatility, supplemented by small-cap equity selection and protective put hedging. The firm also offers Collective Investment Fund (CIF) options and manages mutual fund vehicles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connors Hedged Equity Fund: Mutual fund seeking capital appreciation and secondarily income generation with lower volatility than U.S. equity markets through covered call option writing.
• Connors Covered Call
• Connors Small Companies
• Connors Active Index ETF BuyWrites
• Connors Small Companies Active BuyWrite
• Connors Covered Call/Put

Products and services

• Connors Covered Call (SMA) Options-based strategy designed to maximize risk-adjusted returns by combining long-term appreciation potential of stocks with lower volatility and income generation through covered call option writing, delivered via SMA investing in 35-45 individual large-cap equities.
• Connors Covered Call/Put Strategy Conservative equity strategy combining covered calls and protective puts for extra downside protection, investing in 25-30 individual U.S.-based stocks plus a low-cost ETF representing the S&P 500 Index.
• Connors Small Companies (SMA) Equity strategy focused on small capitalization stocks with the objective of providing returns greater than the Russell 2000 Index over a market cycle, via a concentrated portfolio of 33-37 holdings selected through proprietary screening and bottom-up fundamental research.
• Small Companies Active BuyWrite Hybrid small-cap strategy combining 33-37 carefully selected individual U.S. small company stocks with an allocation to a passive ETF representing the Russell 2000 Index, with systematic covered call writing against the ETF sleeve and tactical protective puts.
• Connors Hedged Equity Fund (CVRDX) Mutual fund seeking capital appreciation and secondarily income generation with lower volatility than U.S. equity markets, investing in approximately 40-50 equity securities diversified across market sectors with covered call writing and protective put strategies. Earns a 4-star Morningstar rating and Silver Morningstar Medalist Rating in the Equity Hedged category.
• Connors Active Index ETF BuyWrites Strategy delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns by investing in passive Index ETFs with an active options overlay to generate income and lower overall volatility.
• Connors Covered Call Collective Investment Fund (CIF) Collective Investment Fund (CIF) vehicle offering the Connors Covered Call strategy as a pooled, institutional vehicle alternative to individual SMAs.
• Separately Managed Accounts (SMA) Individual investment accounts managed as standalone portfolios, allowing customization of holdings, tax-sensitive management, transparent fee structures, and visibility into all trades; available to individual investors, advisors, and institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Morningstar 4-star rating out of 138 funds in Equity Hedged category
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUltimus Fund Distributors, LLC serves as the registered broker-dealer and distributor for the Connors Hedged Equity Fund (CVRDX). They are a member of FINRA and handle fund distribution to brokerage platforms and financial advisors. The relationship enables retail and institutional investor access to Connors mutual fund products through mainstream brokerage channels.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Swan Global Investments: Swan Global Investments is a hedged equity manager specializing in options-overlay strategies, most notably the Defined Risk Strategy (DRS), which combines long equity, index put options, and call options. Directly comparable to Connors in its options-based approach to generating risk-adjusted equity returns.
• Gateway Investment Advisers: Gateway is a long-tenured options-based manager offering hedged equity strategies including covered call writing, with both SMA and mutual fund (Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund) products. Closely matches Connors' core product set, target audience, and covered call investment approach.
• Cboe Vest Financial: Cboe Vest specializes in target outcome and options-based ETFs, including buffered and covered call strategies. A direct peer in the options-overlay and hedged equity category, competing for similar advisor and retail flows.
• Harvest Volatility Management: Harvest is a specialty manager of covered call and options-based ETFs including the Harvest Equity Income Enhanced ETF series. Directly comparable to Connors in its options-yield-focused investment approach and ETF/managed product distribution.

Broad incumbents

• First Trust Advisors: First Trust is a large asset manager offering a broad product suite including covered call ETFs (e.g., First Trust CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index Fund). Comparable as an established competitor in the covered call/buy-write category, though much larger and broader in product scope.
• Nationwide Fund Advisors: Nationwide offers hedged equity and covered call mutual fund products (e.g., Nationwide Hedged Equity Fund). Overlaps with Connors' mutual fund category (US Fund Equity Hedged) and competes for similar advisor-led retail distribution.
• Allianz Investment Management (Virtus): Virtus Investment Partners offers hedged equity and options-based mutual funds (e.g., Virtus Westchester Event-Driven Fund, Virtus AlphaSimplex strategies) that compete in the same US Fund Equity Hedged Morningstar category as Connors Hedged Equity Fund.

Emerging players

• Equity Armor Investments: Equity Armor offers options-based ETFs that use systematic covered call writing and protective put strategies on U.S. equities. Comparable to Connors in the systematic options-overlay approach, though structured as ETFs rather than SMAs or mutual funds.
• Aptus Capital Advisors: Aptus is a boutique manager offering defined-risk ETF strategies with options overlays (e.g., Aptus Large Cap Enhanced Yield ETF). Comparable to Connors as a smaller, advisor-focused boutique specializing in options-based risk-managed equity strategies.
• Amplify ETFs: Amplify offers several covered call and income-focused ETFs (e.g., Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF). A relevant peer in the covered call equity income category targeting similar advisor and retail channels as Connors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connors-investor-services-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connors Investor Services