XYLD vs IVVW: Income Fund Comparison
GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD) 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: XYLD individual review · IVVW individual review
XYLD: MER is 0.6%. IVVW: Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. XYLD fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds. IVVW fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.
| XYLD | IVVW | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF | iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US |
| Fund Type | Index Based Fund | Index Based Fund |
| Exchange | NYSE/NASDAQ | NYSE/NASDAQ |
| Last Reviewed | Dec 24, 2025 | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: XYLD 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.
MER is 0.6%.
Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
Mirae Asset Global Investments - a South Korean financial services company - manages over US$200 billion in assets worldwide.
iShares (BlackRock) manages well over 3 trillion in assets.
Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds.
Fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years.
3.1 billion in this fund.
Net assets are about 286.86 million.
Risk: XYLD 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.
Beta is 0.41 which is lower than the S&P 500 itself.
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.
See the full Risk analysis for both XYLD and IVVW — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: XYLD 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.
Pays monthly.
Pays monthly - confirmed from distribution history.
See the full Return analysis for both XYLD 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 XYLD and IVVW are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: XYLD vs IVVW
Which has a lower expense ratio, XYLD or IVVW?
XYLD: MER is 0.6%.
IVVW: Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
Which fund has more assets under management, XYLD or IVVW?
XYLD: 3.1 billion in this fund.
IVVW: Net assets are about 286.86 million.
Which fund has been trading longer, XYLD or IVVW?
XYLD: Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds.
IVVW: Fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years.
Who manages XYLD vs IVVW?
XYLD: Mirae Asset Global Investments - a South Korean financial services company - manages over US$200 billion in assets worldwide.
IVVW: iShares (BlackRock) manages well over 3 trillion in assets.
Where can I see the full XYLD 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 XYLD and IVVW?
GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF is a Index Based Fund. MER is 0.6%. 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. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Which is better for income investors, XYLD or IVVW?
XYLD: MER is 0.6%. Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds. 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. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Do XYLD and IVVW pay monthly distributions?
XYLD: Pays monthly. IVVW: Pays monthly - confirmed from distribution history. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See the Full XYLD 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.
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