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Security Comparison

AMZN vs AMZW: Sell Some Upside, or Own the Shares?

A head-to-head of Roundhill's AMZN WeeklyPay ETF and Amazon common stock covering the overlay, cost, and why they are not substitutes.

Updated October 16, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • AMZNInvestors who want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
  • AMZWInvestors who want higher current income (48.27% while AMZN makes no distribution).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

AMZN has outpaced AMZW over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.57% total return against 13.87%. Measured from Jun 2025 — the start of shared available history — AMZN has compounded at 13.01% a year versus 9.85% for AMZW. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulativeSince Jun 2025Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
AMZN8.31%16.57%13.01%33.7%0.330.53-21.7%
AMZW5.54%13.87%9.85%40.7%0.220.35-26.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Jun 2025” measures every fund from June 18, 2025 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the past year. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the past year) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Distribution rate and return of capital

MetricAMZNAMZW
Forward distribution rate—48.27%
Trailing 12-month yield—43.18%
Return of capital—100.00%

Total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is the Total returns section above. Return of capital is the share of a recent distribution that was not income.

Not a distribution payer

AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.) has no distribution rate on file and its distribution frequency is None. AMZN is not a payer. The blank yield is not a zero yield.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricAMZNAMZW
Full nameAmazon.com, Inc.Roundhill AMZN WeeklyPay ETF
Issuer—Roundhill Investments
Last Close$250.00 as of October 16, 2026$33.85 as of October 16, 2026
Distribution rate—48.27%
Trailing 12-month yield—43.18%
Distribution Safety Score™ —27
Safety-Adjusted Yield —13.03%
Expense ratio—1.00%
AUM—$33.5M
Distribution frequencyNoneWeekly
Underlying index—Amazon (AMZN)
ObjectiveOperates as an online retailer and web services provider. Segments include North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing platform.AMZW targets weekly payouts and 120% of the weekly total return of Amazon.com before fees.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception dateN/A06/18/2025
Beta1.4561.7108
Last dividend—$0.314229 declared, pays 10/20/2026
Ex-dividend date—10/19/2026 upcoming

Bottom lineChoose AMZN if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee. Choose AMZW if you want higher current income (48.27% while AMZN makes no distribution).

AMZN vs AMZW: the stock or a weekly overlay?

AMZN is the shares. AMZW sells Amazon upside for weekly cash. Structure is the decision.

AMZNAMZW
What you ownAmazon common stockAmazon plus a weekly overlay
Expense ratioNone (common stock)1.00%
Distribution rateNone (no regular dividend)48.27%

How the risk works

Read this before the income numbers below: the strategy mechanics on this page shape what those payouts can cost you.

  • Daily leverage reset. AMZW targets a multiple of the index's DAILY move, resetting every session. Over weeks and months the compounding of daily resets (volatility decay) can drag returns far below the stated multiple, especially in choppy markets — and losses are magnified the same way gains are.

Learn the mechanics: Why daily-reset leverage decays

Model this comparison:
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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each security at current yields.

Roundhill Investments
ETFs57
Total AUM$31.4B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Roundhill Investments is known for offering innovative, specialized ETFs that often feature weekly dividend distributions and exposure to trending themes and individual mega-cap stocks. Their lineup spans income-focused strategies, leveraged products, thematic investments in areas like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, and weekly-pay funds that appeal to investors seeking frequent distributions. The issuer has built a distinctive niche with products targeting both traditional income seekers and those interested in emerging sectors, offering a diverse range of tickers that go well beyond conventional dividend vehicles.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on AMZW.

See all ETFs from Roundhill Investments

Want to go deeper?

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Quick verdict

AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.) is a stock, while AMZW (Roundhill AMZN WeeklyPay ETF) is an ETF — their trading structures differ.

AMZW currently shows a 48.27% distribution yield. AMZN has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.

Who should choose each?

Choose AMZN

Amazon.com, Inc.

  • Want direct stock ownership — full upside and dividend growth potential, no fund wrapper or expense ratio.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.5 vs 1.7 for AMZW.

Choose AMZW

Roundhill AMZN WeeklyPay ETF

  • Want higher current income — AMZW yields 48.27% while AMZN makes no distribution.
  • Want broad equity exposure.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, AMZN has no reported distribution yield yet, so a cash estimate is not available, while AMZW would produce $92.83 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.

AMZN yield—
AMZW yield48.27%

Cost & efficiency

AMZW charges a 1.00% expense ratio — roughly $1,000 over 10 years on $10,000 (simplified, not compounded). AMZN is a stock, not a fund, so it charges no expense ratio.

AMZW ER1.00%

Strategy & risk

AMZN is a stock built around e-commerce & cloud exposure, while AMZW tracks Amazon (AMZN) with a leverage approach. Beta is 1.456 for AMZN and 1.7108 for AMZW, making AMZN the less volatile of the two by this measure.

AMZN beta1.456
AMZW beta1.7108

Security details

AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.) is a stock. AMZW is managed by Roundhill Investments (launched 06/18/2025) with $33.5M in assets.

AMZW AUM$33.5M
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between AMZW and AMZN?

AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.) is the common stock. It keeps every move in Amazon's price and pays no regular dividend. AMZW (Roundhill AMZN WeeklyPay ETF) holds Amazon exposure and sells options for a weekly payout — 48.27% as of October 2026. The stock has no expense ratio; AMZW charges 1.00%. A higher payout generally means more upside has been sold.

Which of AMZN or AMZW pays more dividend income?

AMZW currently reports a distribution yield, while AMZN has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.

What is the difference between AMZN and AMZW?

AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.) is a stock built around e-commerce & cloud exposure, while AMZW (Roundhill AMZN WeeklyPay ETF) tracks Amazon (AMZN) with a leverage approach. They are issued by — and Roundhill Investments respectively.

Can I hold both AMZN and AMZW?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, AMZN or AMZW?

AMZW charges a 1.00% expense ratio. AMZN is a stock, not a fund, so it has no expense ratio — owning it directly costs nothing in ongoing fund fees.

How much income does $10,000 in AMZN vs AMZW generate?

At current rates, AMZN does not pay distributions, so there is no cash income to estimate. The same in AMZW would produce about $92.83 cash per distribution ($4,827.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, AMZN or AMZW?

AMZN has outpaced AMZW over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.57% total return against 13.87%. Measured from Jun 2025 — the start of shared available history — AMZN has compounded at 13.01% a year versus 9.85% for AMZW. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

AMZN vs AMZW — at a glance

Generated October 17, 2026.

Overview

AMZN is the Amazon stock itself—the operating company that runs e-commerce, cloud infrastructure, and advertising.

How they differ

AMZN generates no distributions and reinvests all returns into the business or shareholder appreciation. AMZN, as a stock, incurs no fund-level expense ratio. The ETF structure also introduces daily NAV tracking and potential bid-ask spreads that don't apply to the liquid stock.

Who each is best for

AMZN: Fits investors seeking pure Amazon exposure without manufactured income—those comfortable with no current cash flow in exchange for capital appreciation and full transparency on what they own. Suits long-term holders who view Amazon as a growth or core holding and want to avoid the complexity and cost of derivative strategies.

AMZW: Designed for income-focused traders willing to accept leverage, weekly cash distributions, and the operational complexity of an options-based ETF. Fits investors seeking current yield from a single-stock position and comfortable with the higher beta and fee drag that derivative strategies entail.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at high synthetic yields. AMZW's 48.27% distribution rate far exceeds realistic long-term equity returns. Weekly rebalancing and options positions may amplify losses during sharp downturns and create path-dependency in returns—meaning the sequence of daily moves affects final outcomes in ways a plain stock cannot.
  • Options and derivative roll risk. Weekly payouts require continuous management of call spreads or covered calls. If AMZN rallies sharply, the fund may be called away on covered positions or forced to roll at unfavorable strikes, potentially capping upside or locking in losses. Volatility spikes can also widen the cost of rebalancing.
  • Limited operating history and small asset base. AMZW began trading on 06/18/2025 with only $33.5M in AUM. There is no multi-year track record of how the weekly payout formula behaves across market cycles, earnings surprises, or volatility regimes. Shallow liquidity may also widen spreads for entry and exit.
  • Single-stock concentration. Both securities tie you entirely to Amazon's business. AMZW's leverage amplifies that concentration risk—a single negative earnings revision or cloud-business slowdown impacts AMZW twice as hard as AMZN due to the 120% target exposure. If you prioritize transparent, cost-free exposure and accept no current distributions, AMZN fits the bill. Past performance does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.