SPYI vs XYLD: Which Covered Call ETF Is Better?

SPYI and XYLD are both covered call ETFs tracking the same benchmark, but with different approaches. SPYI offers a 11.92% yield, while XYLD provides a 10.41% 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

SPYI

NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF

S&P 500Inception: Aug 30, 2022

7.23

Overall Score

XYLD

Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF

S&P 500Inception: Jun 24, 2013

5.79

Overall Score

CriteriaSPYIXYLD
Overall Score
7.23
5.79
Total Return (25%)
7.34
3.79
Downside Protection (25%)
5.75
5.90
Upside Participation (25%)
7.54
6.45
Consistency (15%)
10.00
7.61
Expense Ratio (5%)
4.00
5.00
Liquidity (5%)
7.40
7.23
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Key Metrics

MetricSPYIXYLD
Expense Ratio0.680%0.600%
Inception DateAug 30, 2022Jun 24, 2013
IssuerNEOSGlobal X
Distribution FrequencyMonthlyMonthly
Maturity Rating3/5 stars5/5 stars

Verdicts

SPYI

Pays 11.9%, 3.7 points more than GPIX, at a fee 2.3 times higher (0.68% vs 0.29%).

Investor Profile:

SPYI is an actively managed NEOS fund that holds S&P 500 stocks, 511 positions, and uses a call spread approach on SPX index option futures. The options qualify as Section 1256 contracts, taxed at the 60/40 rate. NEOS aims for high monthly income in a tax-efficient way, and distributions are partly return of capital. It pays monthly.

XYLD

Cut volatility to 9.0% (SPY 15.7%), but its worst drawdown (-23.4%) was only 0.5 points better than SPY's.

Investor Profile:

XYLD tracks the Cboe S&P 500 BuyWrite Index. It holds the S&P 500 stocks, 507 positions, and sells one-month at-the-money call options on the whole portfolio. The rules are mechanical and it pays monthly. PBP tracks the same index.

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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