IVVW vs WDTE: Income Fund Comparison
iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US (IVVW) and Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US (WDTE) 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: IVVW individual review · WDTE individual review
IVVW: Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. IVVW fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years. WDTE fund inception date was September 18th 2023 - approximately 2.5 years of history as of review date (rounded up to 3 years for scoring). In early October 2024 the fund moved from monthly to weekly distributions. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.
| IVVW | WDTE | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US | Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US |
| Fund Type | Index Based Fund | Index Based Fund |
| Exchange | NYSE/NASDAQ | NYSE/NASDAQ |
| Last Reviewed | Jun 24, 2026 | Mar 7, 2026 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: IVVW vs WDTE 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 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.
iShares (BlackRock) manages well over 3 trillion in assets.
Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.
Fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years.
Fund inception date was September 18th 2023 - approximately 2.5 years of history as of review date (rounded up to 3 years for scoring). In early October 2024 the fund moved from monthly to weekly distributions.
Net assets are about 286.86 million.
$65.51 Million in assets under management which is a very small fund. Fund has shrunk from $72 Million in the previous review - likely due to poor performance.
Risk: IVVW vs WDTE 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.
Beta is 0.67 vs SPY over the price series since March 2024 - below market sensitivity. Standalone volatility is about 10.60% annualized (weekly returns) which is low-to-moderate and confirms the low beta reading.
Beta 0.702 vs SPY - weekly - 2023-09-29 to 2026-03-07 - standalone volatility ~11.02% annualized (weekly returns) - beta score used as primary driver.
See the full Risk analysis for both IVVW and WDTE — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: IVVW vs WDTE 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.
Pays monthly - confirmed from distribution history.
Weekly distributions (moved from monthly in early October 2024).
See the full Return analysis for both IVVW and WDTE — 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 IVVW and WDTE are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: IVVW vs WDTE
Which has a lower expense ratio, IVVW or WDTE?
IVVW: Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.
Which fund has more assets under management, IVVW or WDTE?
IVVW: Net assets are about 286.86 million.
WDTE: $65.51 Million in assets under management which is a very small fund. Fund has shrunk from $72 Million in the previous review - likely due to poor performance.
Which fund has been trading longer, IVVW or WDTE?
IVVW: Fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years.
WDTE: Fund inception date was September 18th 2023 - approximately 2.5 years of history as of review date (rounded up to 3 years for scoring). In early October 2024 the fund moved from monthly to weekly distributions.
Who manages IVVW vs WDTE?
IVVW: iShares (BlackRock) manages well over 3 trillion in assets.
WDTE: Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.
Where can I see the full IVVW vs WDTE 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 IVVW and WDTE?
iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Which is better for income investors, IVVW or WDTE?
IVVW: Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. Fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years. WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. Fund inception date was September 18th 2023 - approximately 2.5 years of history as of review date (rounded up to 3 years for scoring). In early October 2024 the fund moved from monthly to weekly distributions. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Do IVVW and WDTE pay monthly distributions?
IVVW: Pays monthly - confirmed from distribution history. WDTE: Weekly distributions (moved from monthly in early October 2024). Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See the Full IVVW vs WDTE 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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