XYLD vs XYLG: Income Fund Comparison

GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD) 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.

XYLD: MER is 0.6%. XYLG: MER is 0.35%. This is low for a covered call fund. XYLD fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds. XYLG fund inception date was Sept 18 2020. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.

XYLD XYLG
Fund Name GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF 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 2025-12-24 2025-06-04
Author , Income Investing Analyst
XYLD
XYLG
Overall Score
Dependability

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Fund Attributes: XYLD 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
XYLD
XYLG
Expense Ratio
3/5

MER is 0.6%.

4/5

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

Fund Company Size
5/5

Mirae Asset Global Investments - a South Korean financial services company - manages over US$200 billion in assets worldwide.

5/5

Mirae Global X has more than 40 Billion under management.

Fund History
5/5

Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds.

4/5

Fund inception date was Sept 18 2020.

Fund AUM
5/5

3.1 billion in this fund.

1/5

53 Million net assets invested in this fund.

Risk: XYLD 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
XYLD
XYLG
Volatility
5/5

Beta is 0.41 which is lower than the S&P 500 itself.

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
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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 XYLD and XYLG — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.

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Return: XYLD 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
XYLD
XYLG
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
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 XYLD and XYLG — 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 XYLD and XYLG are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See our full scoring methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: XYLD vs XYLG

Which has a lower expense ratio, XYLD or XYLG?

XYLD: MER is 0.6%.
XYLG: MER is 0.35%. This is low for a covered call fund.

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

XYLD: 3.1 billion in this fund.
XYLG: 53 Million net assets invested in this fund.

Which fund has been trading longer, XYLD or XYLG?

XYLD: Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds.
XYLG: Fund inception date was Sept 18 2020.

Who manages XYLD vs XYLG?

XYLD: Mirae Asset Global Investments - a South Korean financial services company - manages over US$200 billion in assets worldwide.
XYLG: Mirae Global X has more than 40 Billion under management.

Where can I see the full XYLD 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 XYLD and XYLG?

GlobalX S&P 500 Covered Call ETF is a Index Based Fund. MER is 0.6%. 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, XYLD or XYLG?

XYLD: MER is 0.6%. Fund started June 21st 2013 and is one of the original covered call index funds. 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 XYLD and XYLG pay monthly distributions?

XYLD: 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 XYLD 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.

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