WDTE vs FEPI: Income Fund Comparison

Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US (WDTE) and REX FANG & Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF - US (FEPI) 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.

WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. FEPI: Total expense ratio is 0.65%. 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. FEPI inception date was October 11 2023. As of March 6 2026 the fund is approximately 2 years and 4 months old. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.

WDTE FEPI
Fund Name Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US REX FANG & Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF - US
Fund Type Index Based Fund Sector Based Fund - Information Technology
Exchange NYSE/NASDAQ NYSE/NASDAQ
Last Reviewed 2026-03-07 2026-03-06
Author , Income Investing Analyst
WDTE
FEPI
Overall Score
Dependability

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Fund Attributes: WDTE vs FEPI 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
WDTE
FEPI
Expense Ratio
1/5

Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.

3/5

Total expense ratio is 0.65%.

Fund Company Size
4/5

Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.

5/5

Over $10 billion in assets under management for Rex Financial.

Fund History
3/5

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.

3/5

Inception date was October 11 2023. As of March 6 2026 the fund is approximately 2 years and 4 months old.

Fund AUM
1/5

$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.

3/5

Fund AUM is approximately $591.6 million as of March 4 2026.

Risk: WDTE vs FEPI 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
WDTE
FEPI
Volatility
1/5

Beta vs SPY is approximately -0.26 (2023-09-29 to 2026-03-06) - very low / inverse market correlation. Per scoring rules - standalone volatility is used when |beta| < 0.6. Standalone annualized volatility (weekly total returns) is approximately 121.29% - extremely high price choppiness independent of market movements. Combined with severe NAV erosion of approximately -48.87% since inception.

3/5

Beta is 1.12 vs SPY over the available price series (October 2023 to March 2026). Standalone annualized volatility is 21.39% (weekly total returns). Both measures score 3.

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 WDTE and FEPI — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.

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Return: WDTE vs FEPI 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
WDTE
FEPI
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
5/5

Weekly distributions (moved from monthly in early October 2024).

4/5

Fund pays monthly distributions.

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

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

See our full scoring methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: WDTE vs FEPI

Which has a lower expense ratio, WDTE or FEPI?

WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.
FEPI: Total expense ratio is 0.65%.

Which fund has more assets under management, WDTE or FEPI?

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.
FEPI: Fund AUM is approximately $591.6 million as of March 4 2026.

Which fund has been trading longer, WDTE or FEPI?

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.
FEPI: Inception date was October 11 2023. As of March 6 2026 the fund is approximately 2 years and 4 months old.

Who manages WDTE vs FEPI?

WDTE: Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.
FEPI: Over $10 billion in assets under management for Rex Financial.

Where can I see the full WDTE vs FEPI 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 WDTE and FEPI?

Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. REX FANG & Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF - US is a Sector Based Fund - Information Technology. Total expense ratio is 0.65%. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Which is better for income investors, WDTE or FEPI?

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. FEPI: Total expense ratio is 0.65%. Inception date was October 11 2023. As of March 6 2026 the fund is approximately 2 years and 4 months old. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Do WDTE and FEPI pay monthly distributions?

WDTE: Weekly distributions (moved from monthly in early October 2024). FEPI: Fund pays monthly distributions. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See the Full WDTE vs FEPI 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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