ISPY vs PBP: Which Covered Call ETF Is Better?

ISPY and PBP are both covered call ETFs tracking the same benchmark, but with different approaches. ISPY offers a 5.26% yield, while PBP provides a 11.36% yield. Compare their scores, yields, and performance metrics to find the best fit for your portfolio.

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Compare covered call ETFs with the same benchmark side by side

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Step 2: Select ETFs to Compare

ISPY

ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF

S&P 500Inception: Mar 22, 2023

5.61

Overall Score

PBP

Invesco S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF

S&P 500Inception: Dec 20, 2007

5.76

Overall Score

CriteriaISPYPBP
Overall Score
5.61
5.76
Total Return (25%)
7.63
2.53
Downside Protection (25%)
—
8.47
Upside Participation (25%)
8.95
5.37
Consistency (15%)
6.00
7.22
Expense Ratio (5%)
5.62
6.38
Liquidity (5%)
5.74
5.41
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Since Inception

3 Years

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1 Year

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Key Metrics

MetricISPYPBP
Expense Ratio0.550%0.490%
Inception DateMar 22, 2023Dec 20, 2007
IssuerProSharesInvesco
Distribution FrequencyMonthlyMonthly
Maturity Rating2/5 stars5/5 stars

Verdicts

ISPY

Daily calls leave 89% of S&P 500 upside but 111% of the downside, for a 5.3% yield.

Investor Profile:

ISPY holds 514 S&P 500 stocks and describes its approach as a covered call strategy using daily options. It aims for monthly income and long-term returns in line with the S&P 500, and its page compares it with the S&P 500 Daily Covered Call Index. The page does not say whether the options are on an index or an ETF, or how much of the portfolio is covered.

PBP

Cut volatility to 8.9% (SPY 15.7%) and pays 11.4%, but it captured 54% of S&P 500 upside and 58% of the downside.

Investor Profile:

PBP tracks the Cboe S&P 500 BuyWrite Index. It holds the S&P 500 stocks, about 507 positions, and sells at-the-money one-month call options on the S&P 500 index. The rules are mechanical, with no active manager decisions. It pays monthly.

Full scores for these funds

See where these rank against every SPY fund

Both funds are scored on total return, downside protection, upside participation, distribution consistency, cost and liquidity, against the same benchmark and the same window.

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