XYLD vs WDTE: Income Fund Comparison
GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD) 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: XYLD individual review · WDTE individual review
| XYLD | WDTE | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF | Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US |
| Fund Type | Index Based Fund | Index Based Fund |
| Exchange | NYSE/NASDAQ | NYSE/NASDAQ |
| Last Reviewed | 2025-12-24 | 2026-03-07 |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: XYLD 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.
MER is 0.6%.
Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.
Mirae Asset Global Investments - a South Korean financial services company - manages over US$200 billion in assets worldwide.
Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.
Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds.
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.
3.1 billion in this fund.
$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: XYLD 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.
See the full Risk analysis for both XYLD and WDTE — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: XYLD 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.
See the full Return analysis for both XYLD 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 XYLD and WDTE are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Frequently Asked Questions: XYLD vs WDTE
Which has a lower expense ratio, XYLD or WDTE?
XYLD: MER is 0.6%.
WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.
Which fund has more assets under management, XYLD or WDTE?
XYLD: 3.1 billion in this fund.
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, XYLD or WDTE?
XYLD: Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds.
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 XYLD vs WDTE?
XYLD: Mirae Asset Global Investments - a South Korean financial services company - manages over US$200 billion in assets worldwide.
WDTE: Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.
Where can I see the full XYLD 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.
See the Full XYLD 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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