ISPY vs IVVW: Income Fund Comparison
Proshares S&P 500 High Income ETF - US (ISPY) and iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US (IVVW) 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.
Also see: ISPY individual review · IVVW individual review
ISPY: Expense ratio is 0.56% IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. ISPY inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history IVVW fund inception date was March 14 2024. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.
| ISPY | IVVW | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Proshares S&P 500 High Income ETF - US | iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US |
| Fund Type | Index Based Fund | Index Based Fund |
| Exchange | NYSE/NASDAQ | NYSE/NASDAQ |
| Last Reviewed | 2026-04-07 | 2025-06-04 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: ISPY vs IVVW 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.
Expense ratio is 0.56%
MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
ProShares has surpassed $100 billion in assets under management
iShares Blackrock has more than 3.3 Trillion under management.
Inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history
Fund inception date was March 14 2024.
Fund AUM approximately $1.14 billion as of February 28 2026
40 Million net assets invested in this fund.
Risk: ISPY vs IVVW 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.
Calculation result: beta 0.91 vs SPY (period 2023-12-29 to 2026-03-28) - standalone volatility 12.99% annualized (weekly returns) - low-to-moderate price variability
Portfolio visualizer says the beta is 0.62 which is lower volatility than the overall market.
See the full Risk analysis for both ISPY and IVVW — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: ISPY vs IVVW 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.
Monthly distributions
Pays monthly.
See the full Return analysis for both ISPY and IVVW — yield ratings, distribution consistency scores, and capital history.
View Plans →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 ISPY and IVVW are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: ISPY vs IVVW
Which has a lower expense ratio, ISPY or IVVW?
ISPY: Expense ratio is 0.56%
IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
Which fund has more assets under management, ISPY or IVVW?
ISPY: Fund AUM approximately $1.14 billion as of February 28 2026
IVVW: 40 Million net assets invested in this fund.
Which fund has been trading longer, ISPY or IVVW?
ISPY: Inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history
IVVW: Fund inception date was March 14 2024.
Who manages ISPY vs IVVW?
ISPY: ProShares has surpassed $100 billion in assets under management
IVVW: iShares Blackrock has more than 3.3 Trillion under management.
Where can I see the full ISPY vs IVVW 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 ISPY and IVVW?
Proshares S&P 500 High Income ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 0.56%. iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Which is better for income investors, ISPY or IVVW?
ISPY: Expense ratio is 0.56%. Inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history. IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. Fund inception date was March 14 2024. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Do ISPY and IVVW pay monthly distributions?
ISPY: Monthly distributions. IVVW: Pays monthly. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See the Full ISPY vs IVVW 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.
Open Free Comparison Tool →Free. No credit card required.