ESPX.TO vs HRIF.TO: Income Fund Comparison

Evolve S&P 500 Enhanced Yield Fund - Canada (ESPX.TO) and Harvest Diversified Equity Income ETF - Canada (HRIF.TO) are both income-focused funds. Below is our independent side-by-side review using the Dependable Income Investing 13-factor scoring system — designed specifically for income investors seeking reliable, sustainable distributions.

ESPX.TO: MER is 0.68% for the ETF. They also have a mutual fund version which is 1.8% MER. HRIF.TO: ETF is subject to fees of the underlying ETFs in the portfolio. MER is 0.95% which is on the higher side. ESPX.TO fund started Jan 9 2023 HRIF.TO april 12th 2023 was fund start date. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.

ESPX.TO HRIF.TO
Fund Name Evolve S&P 500 Enhanced Yield Fund - Canada Harvest Diversified Equity Income ETF - Canada
Fund Type Index Based Fund Diversified Fund
Exchange TSX TSX
Last Reviewed 2025-08-25 2025-04-14
Author , Income Investing Analyst
ESPX.TO
HRIF.TO
Overall Score
Dependability

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Fund Attributes: ESPX.TO vs HRIF.TO 20% of overall score

Fund Attributes cover the foundational characteristics of each fund: cost, company backing, track record, and size. These factors reflect stability and cost-efficiency for long-term income investors.

Criterion
ESPX.TO
HRIF.TO
Expense Ratio
3/5

MER is 0.68% for the ETF. They also have a mutual fund version which is 1.8% MER.

2/5

ETF is subject to fees of the underlying ETFs in the portfolio. MER is 0.95% which is on the higher side.

Fund Company Size
4/5

Evolve has over $7 Billion in Assets Under Management.

3/5

Harvest has over $5.8 Billion in total assets under management.

Fund History
3/5

Fund started Jan 9 2023

3/5

April 12th 2023 was fund start date.

Fund AUM
3/5

$285 Million in AUM in this fund.

1/5

$19 Million AUM for the fund.

Risk: ESPX.TO vs HRIF.TO 35% of overall score

Risk factors evaluate how each fund manages volatility, diversification, and the nature of its underlying assets — critical considerations for income investors who prioritise capital preservation.

Criterion
ESPX.TO
HRIF.TO
Volatility
4/5

According to portfolio visualizer the beta is 0.88.

4/5

According to Portfolio Visualizer The beta of the fund is about 0.77 - less volatile than the market.

Lower volatility may indicate more stability — important for investors living off their income.
Sector Diversification
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Holding across more sectors reduces the impact of any single industry downturn.
Geographic Diversification
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Exposure across geographies can reduce risk from any single country's economic conditions.
Fund Risk
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The fund's overall risk profile, based on self-reported classifications where available.
Underlying Assets
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What the fund actually holds — stocks, bonds, synthetics, or other funds — affects risk profile significantly.

See the full Risk analysis for both ESPX.TO and HRIF.TO — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.

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Return: ESPX.TO vs HRIF.TO 45% of overall score

Return factors assess income generation quality: current yield, distribution consistency, price history, and payment frequency. This is the most heavily weighted category for income investors.

Criterion
ESPX.TO
HRIF.TO
Yield
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The current dividend yield, reflecting the annual income generated relative to fund price.
Yield Stability
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How consistent the distribution amounts have been over time — critical for income investors who budget around payments.
Capital History
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The fund's track record of price appreciation or depreciation, reflecting total return alongside income.
Distribution Frequency
4/5

Pays monthly.

4/5

Monthly distributions.

How often the fund pays distributions — monthly payments are generally preferred by income investors.

See the full Return analysis for both ESPX.TO and HRIF.TO — yield ratings, distribution consistency scores, and capital history.

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Our Review Methodology

Every fund reviewed on Dependable Income Investing is scored using our 13-factor Fund Report Card, organised into three weighted categories: Fund Attributes (20%), Risk (35%), and Return (45%). Each criterion is rated 1–5 by our analysts based on publicly available fund data.

We also calculate a Dependability Score — a weighted composite of six income-specific factors ranked by importance for retirement income investors: Yield Stability, Yield, Volatility, Capital History, Fund Risk, and Underlying Assets. This score answers the question income investors care about most: can I depend on this fund to pay me reliably?

Full scores, ratings, and analyst notes for both ESPX.TO and HRIF.TO are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See our full scoring methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: ESPX.TO vs HRIF.TO

Which has a lower expense ratio, ESPX.TO or HRIF.TO?

ESPX.TO: MER is 0.68% for the ETF. They also have a mutual fund version which is 1.8% MER.
HRIF.TO: ETF is subject to fees of the underlying ETFs in the portfolio. MER is 0.95% which is on the higher side.

Which fund has more assets under management, ESPX.TO or HRIF.TO?

ESPX.TO: $285 Million in AUM in this fund.
HRIF.TO: $19 Million AUM for the fund.

Which fund has been trading longer, ESPX.TO or HRIF.TO?

ESPX.TO: Fund started Jan 9 2023
HRIF.TO: April 12th 2023 was fund start date.

Who manages ESPX.TO vs HRIF.TO?

ESPX.TO: Evolve has over $7 Billion in Assets Under Management.
HRIF.TO: Harvest has over $5.8 Billion in total assets under management.

Where can I see the full ESPX.TO vs HRIF.TO comparison with scores?

The complete side-by-side comparison — including all Risk and Return scores, analyst notes, Overall Score, and Dependability Score for both funds — is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

What is the difference between ESPX.TO and HRIF.TO?

Evolve S&P 500 Enhanced Yield Fund - Canada is a Index Based Fund. MER is 0.68% for the ETF. They also have a mutual fund version which is 1.8% MER. Harvest Diversified Equity Income ETF - Canada is a Diversified Fund. ETF is subject to fees of the underlying ETFs in the portfolio. MER is 0.95% which is on the higher side. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Which is better for income investors, ESPX.TO or HRIF.TO?

ESPX.TO: MER is 0.68% for the ETF. They also have a mutual fund version which is 1.8% MER. Fund started Jan 9 2023. HRIF.TO: ETF is subject to fees of the underlying ETFs in the portfolio. MER is 0.95% which is on the higher side. April 12th 2023 was fund start date. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Do ESPX.TO and HRIF.TO pay monthly distributions?

ESPX.TO: Pays monthly. HRIF.TO: Monthly distributions. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See the Full ESPX.TO vs HRIF.TO Comparison

The Dependable Income Investing app gives you the complete picture: all 13 scoring factors for both funds, Risk and Return analyst notes, Dependability Scores, and tools to compare any income fund side by side.

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