First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund (VFLEX) Fund Overview
Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How to read this
Beta 0.06: the stock has moved about 94% less than the S&P 500.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Machine-generated analysis by Stock Expert AI — model gemini-2.0-flash, generated Mar 16, 2026. Editorial oversight is systemic, not page-by-page. Editorially accountable: Sedat ANAK, Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Data sources: Financial Modeling Prep, Yahoo Finance, SEC EDGAR
Quick AnswerFirst Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund (VFLEX) trades at $28.01. First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund is a closed-end investment fund. Sector: Financials.
Price as of · Last analyzed: Mar 16, 2026Analyst Coverage for VFLEX: VFLEX does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage.
First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund (VFLEX) Financial Services Profile
First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund is a closed-end investment fund providing alternative investment strategies. With a market capitalization of $3.18 billion and a low beta of 0.06, the fund offers exposure to diverse asset classes, seeking to generate income and capital appreciation for its investors from its base in Milwaukee, WI.
What Is the Investment Thesis for VFLEX?
First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund presents a compelling, albeit specialized, investment profile for those seeking exposure to alternative asset classes. With a market cap of $3.18 billion and a beta of 0.06, VFLEX offers relatively low volatility compared to the broader market. The fund's value proposition lies in its ability to access and manage a diversified portfolio of alternative investments, potentially generating income and capital appreciation. Key growth catalysts include increasing investor demand for alternative investments and the fund's ability to identify and capitalize on unique market opportunities. However, potential risks include the complexity and illiquidity of alternative assets, as well as the potential for higher fees compared to traditional investment options. Investors should carefully consider their risk tolerance and investment objectives before investing in VFLEX.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
VFLEX Key Highlights
Market capitalization of $3.18 billion indicates substantial size and potential stability within the closed-end fund landscape.
- Beta of 0.06 suggests low volatility relative to the broader market, potentially appealing to risk-averse investors.
- Focus on alternative investments provides diversification benefits beyond traditional asset classes.
- Closed-end fund structure allows for greater flexibility in managing illiquid assets.
- Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, indicating a US-based operational focus.
Who Are VFLEX's Competitors?
VFLEX is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | MoonshotScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCSF Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. | $10.82 | -0.73% | $702M | 79 5-pillar |
| ARCC Ares Capital Corporation | $18.64 | -0.97% | $13.4B | 86 5-pillar |
| FSK FS KKR Capital Corp. | $10.81 | -1.59% | $3.03B | — |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | $1079.42 | +1.22% | $167B | — |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | $113.03 | +1.24% | $137B | — |
| APOS Apollo Global Management, Inc. | $25.60 | +0.04% | $74.9B | — |
| BAM Brookfield Asset Management | $45.21 | +1.07% | $72.2B | — |
| AMP Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | $492.05 | -0.58% | $44.2B | — |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are VFLEX's Key Strengths?
Diversified portfolio of alternative investments.
- Experienced management team with expertise in alternative assets.
- Closed-end fund structure provides flexibility in managing illiquid assets.
- Low beta indicates lower volatility compared to the broader market.
What Are VFLEX's Weaknesses?
Complexity and illiquidity of alternative assets.
- Higher fees compared to traditional investment options.
- Potential for market price to deviate from net asset value (NAV).
- Dependence on the performance of underlying alternative investments.
What Are the Key Risks for VFLEX?
Complexity and illiquidity of alternative assets can make it difficult to exit investments quickly.
- Higher fees compared to traditional investment options can reduce overall returns.
- Economic downturns can negatively impact the value of alternative investments.
- Changes in regulations can impact the fund's operations and profitability.
What Threats Does VFLEX Face?
- Economic downturns can negatively impact alternative asset values.
- Increased competition from other alternative investment providers.
- Changes in regulations can impact the fund's operations.
- Interest rate hikes can affect the cost of capital.
What Are VFLEX's Competitive Advantages?
- Expertise in alternative investments: Specialized knowledge and experience in sourcing, managing, and valuing alternative assets.
- Diversified portfolio: Exposure to a wide range of alternative asset classes, reducing overall portfolio risk.
- Closed-end fund structure: Greater flexibility in managing illiquid assets compared to open-end funds.
- Established track record: Demonstrated ability to generate returns from alternative investments over time.
What Does VFLEX Do?
First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund is a closed-end investment fund structured as an investment trust. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the fund is designed to provide investors with exposure to a range of alternative investment strategies. These strategies typically include investments in asset classes beyond traditional stocks and bonds, such as real estate, private equity, hedge funds, and commodities. The fund aims to generate income and capital appreciation by strategically allocating its assets across these diverse opportunities. As a closed-end fund, VFLEX issues a fixed number of shares that trade on the open market, potentially leading to market prices that differ from the fund's net asset value (NAV). This structure allows the fund manager greater flexibility in managing the portfolio, as they are not subject to the same redemption pressures as open-end mutual funds. The fund's investment decisions are guided by a team of experienced professionals who conduct thorough research and analysis to identify attractive alternative investment opportunities. The fund's objective is to provide investors with a diversified portfolio of alternative investments that can enhance returns and reduce overall portfolio risk.
What Products and Services Does VFLEX Offer?
- Acts as a closed-end investment fund.
- Provides investment trust services.
- Offers exposure to alternative investment strategies.
- Invests in a range of asset classes beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
- Seeks to generate income and capital appreciation for investors.
- Manages a diversified portfolio of alternative investments.
- Allocates assets across real estate, private equity, hedge funds, and commodities.
How Does VFLEX Make Money?
- Generates revenue through management fees charged on assets under management (AUM).
- Earns performance-based fees (incentive fees) based on the fund's investment performance.
- Utilizes a closed-end fund structure, issuing a fixed number of shares.
- Invests in a diversified portfolio of alternative assets to generate returns.
What Industry Does VFLEX Operate In?
First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund operates within the asset management industry, specifically focusing on alternative investments. This segment has seen increased interest as investors seek diversification and higher returns beyond traditional asset classes. The competitive landscape includes other closed-end funds, hedge funds, and private equity firms offering similar alternative investment strategies. Market trends include a growing demand for uncorrelated assets and a greater emphasis on risk management. The fund's success depends on its ability to effectively source, manage, and deliver returns from its portfolio of alternative investments.
Who Are VFLEX's Key Customers?
- Institutional investors seeking diversification and higher returns.
- High-net-worth individuals looking for alternative investment opportunities.
- Financial advisors seeking to provide clients with access to alternative assets.
- Pension funds and endowments seeking to enhance portfolio performance.
Research confidence
Thin evidence — scoring coverage unknown. Treat this as a starting point, not a conclusion.
- ● Scoring coverage unknown
- ● Price is current
- ● No filing on record
- ● No analyst coverage
- ● This is a fund, not an operating company
VFLEX Financials
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Diversified portfolio of alternative investments.
- Experienced management team with expertise in alternative assets.
- Closed-end fund structure provides flexibility in managing illiquid assets.
- Low beta indicates lower volatility compared to the broader market.
Bear Case
- Complexity and illiquidity of alternative assets.
- Higher fees compared to traditional investment options.
- Potential for market price to deviate from net asset value (NAV).
- Dependence on the performance of underlying alternative investments.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026
VFLEX Latest News
No recent news available for VFLEX.
VFLEX Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations collected by Financial Modeling Prep for VFLEX.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for VFLEX.
VFLEX MoonshotScore
MoonshotScore is Stock Expert AI's proprietary 0-100 research rating, not a buy or sell recommendation. No MoonshotScore is published for VFLEX; grades run from A+ (80-100) to F (below 30).
First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund Financials Stock: Key Questions Answered
What are the main risks for VFLEX?
The main risks for First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund are inherent in the nature of alternative investments. These include the complexity and illiquidity of assets like private equity and real estate, which can make it difficult to exit investments quickly.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
MoonshotScore is not published for this security.
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- Alternative investments carry unique risks and may not be suitable for all investors.