Generated July 2026 from current fund data.
Overview
AMZN is Amazon's stock itself—the underlying e-commerce and cloud computing company. AMZY is a covered-call ETF launched by YieldMax that holds AMZN and sells call options against it to generate weekly income. The key distinction: AMZN offers growth and no distributions; AMZY trades upside capture for a 32.85% annualized yield through systematic call selling.
How they differ
AMZY's defining feature is its covered-call structure. It holds Amazon shares but systematically sells call options, capping upside in exchange for option premium that flows to investors as weekly distributions. AMZN has beta of 1.461 versus AMZY's 1.1373, reflecting the volatility dampening built into the call overlay.
The yield gap is stark: AMZY distributes 32.85% annually; AMZN pays no dividend. AMZY's 1.01% expense ratio covers the fund's operational costs and the mechanics of rolling calls weekly. AMZY is also far smaller, with $246M in AUM versus Amazon's massive market cap, and has only been live since July 2023, so its track record is limited. The trade-off is immediate: chase weekly income through AMZY and accept a ceiling on stock appreciation; own AMZN and retain full upside but forgo all distributions.
Who each is best for
AMZN: Fits investors with a multi-year time horizon who believe in Amazon's long-term growth in cloud and retail and want to avoid the drag of option premium erosion that comes with systematic call selling.
AMZY: Fits investors seeking regular current income from an Amazon position who are comfortable capping upside at the strike price each week and view Amazon as a mature holding rather than a growth catalyst.
Key risks to know
- NAV erosion at extreme yields. A 32.85% distribution rate on a single-equity ETF almost certainly includes return-of-capital components. Over time, this structure erodes NAV relative to the underlying stock, particularly if Amazon's fundamentals underperform or the stock stagnates.
- Call strike risk. If AMZN rallies sharply, AMZY holders miss gains above the weekly strike. Conversely, if AMZN drops, the call premium collected provides some cushion, but holders still lose principal alongside the broader market.
- Single-name concentration. AMZY holds only Amazon. There is no diversification; company-specific risk—regulatory action, management change, competitive pressure in AWS—directly impacts 100% of the fund's value.
- Limited track record. AMZY launched in July 2023. Performance data is sparse, and sustained high yields during a market downturn or Amazon underperformance remain untested.
Bottom line
If you want full upside exposure to Amazon's growth and can tolerate no current income, AMZN is the direct path. If you prioritize weekly cash flow and accept a capped appreciation potential, AMZY offers that trade—but at the cost of NAV erosion risk and total dependence on a single name. Past performance, especially for AMZY's brief history, does not predict future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.