IVVW vs XYLG: Income Fund Comparison

iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US (IVVW) and Global X S&P 500 Covered Call and Growth ETF - US (XYLG) 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.

IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. XYLG: MER is 0.35%. This is low for a covered call fund. IVVW fund inception date was March 14 2024. XYLG fund inception date was Sept 18 2020. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.

IVVW XYLG
Fund Name iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US Global X S&P 500 Covered Call and Growth ETF - US
Fund Type Index Based Fund Index Based Fund
Exchange NYSE/NASDAQ NYSE/NASDAQ
Last Reviewed 2025-06-04 2025-06-04
Author , Income Investing Analyst
IVVW
XYLG
Overall Score
Dependability

🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription

Compare Performance — Free →

Fund Attributes: IVVW vs XYLG 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
IVVW
XYLG
Expense Ratio
4/5

MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.

4/5

MER is 0.35%. This is low for a covered call fund.

Fund Company Size
5/5

iShares Blackrock has more than 3.3 Trillion under management.

5/5

Mirae Global X has more than 40 Billion under management.

Fund History
4/5

Fund inception date was March 14 2024.

4/5

Fund inception date was Sept 18 2020.

Fund AUM
1/5

40 Million net assets invested in this fund.

1/5

53 Million net assets invested in this fund.

Risk: IVVW vs XYLG 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
IVVW
XYLG
Volatility
5/5

Portfolio visualizer says the beta is 0.62 which is lower volatility than the overall market.

4/5

Portfolio visualizer says the beta is 0.77 which is lower volatility than the overall market.

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

See the full Risk analysis for both IVVW and XYLG — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.

View Plans →

Return: IVVW vs XYLG 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
IVVW
XYLG
Yield
████████████████████████
🔒 Full analysis in app
████████████████████████
🔒 Full analysis in app
The current dividend yield, reflecting the annual income generated relative to fund price.
Yield Stability
████████████████████████
🔒 Full analysis in app
████████████████████████
🔒 Full analysis in app
How consistent the distribution amounts have been over time — critical for income investors who budget around payments.
Capital History
████████████████████████
🔒 Full analysis in app
████████████████████████
🔒 Full analysis in app
The fund's track record of price appreciation or depreciation, reflecting total return alongside income.
Distribution Frequency
4/5

Pays monthly.

4/5

Pays monthly.

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

See the full Return analysis for both IVVW and XYLG — 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 XYLG are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See our full scoring methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: IVVW vs XYLG

Which has a lower expense ratio, IVVW or XYLG?

IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
XYLG: MER is 0.35%. This is low for a covered call fund.

Which fund has more assets under management, IVVW or XYLG?

IVVW: 40 Million net assets invested in this fund.
XYLG: 53 Million net assets invested in this fund.

Which fund has been trading longer, IVVW or XYLG?

IVVW: Fund inception date was March 14 2024.
XYLG: Fund inception date was Sept 18 2020.

Who manages IVVW vs XYLG?

IVVW: iShares Blackrock has more than 3.3 Trillion under management.
XYLG: Mirae Global X has more than 40 Billion under management.

Where can I see the full IVVW vs XYLG 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 XYLG?

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. Global X S&P 500 Covered Call and Growth ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. MER is 0.35%. This is 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, IVVW or XYLG?

IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. Fund inception date was March 14 2024. XYLG: MER is 0.35%. This is low for a covered call fund. Fund inception date was Sept 18 2020. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Do IVVW and XYLG pay monthly distributions?

IVVW: Pays monthly. XYLG: Pays monthly. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See the Full IVVW vs XYLG 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.

"As someone new to investing, this app is a game changer!"

— J. Cook, Alert Bay, BC 🇨🇦

"It is a great tool for tracking investing. It has been incredibly helpful for my husband and me."

— R. Savino, Brea, CA 🇺🇸

"I imagine it will continue to be invaluable as I begin personally managing some or all of my investments."

— D. Giesy, Mount Vernon, WA 🇺🇸