DV
Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

OVL vs WTPI: A Call Overlay, or Equity Premium Income?

A head-to-head of Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity and WisdomTree Equity Premium Income covering implementation and cost.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Best for

  • OVLInvestors who are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout.
  • WTPIInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 12.07%, generated by selling options premium.

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.

OVL has outpaced WTPI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.89% total return against 12.22%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: OVL has compounded at 13.16% a year, against 9.33% for WTPI. WTPI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 11.5% against 18.7% for OVL. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5YSince Oct 2019Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
OVL14.18%19.89%22.87%13.16%17.27%18.7%0.861.21-21.7%
WTPI6.55%12.22%13.56%9.33%9.90%11.5%0.721.01-15.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Oct 2019” measures every fund from October 1, 2019 — 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 trailing 3 years. 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 trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricOVLWTPI
Full nameOverlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETFWisdomTree Equity Premium Income Fund
IssuerOverlay SharesWisdomTree
Last Close$56.86 as of September 18, 2026$33.01 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate10.43%12.07%
Distribution Safety Score™ 9262
Safety-Adjusted Yield 9.60%7.48%
Expense ratio0.79%0.44%
AUM$443M$528M
Distribution frequencyMonthlyMonthly
Underlying indexS&P 500 (VOO)
ObjectivePut-selling overlay on large cap equity exposure via VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) to generate additional income.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date09/30/201902/24/2016
Beta1.170.58
Last dividend$0.494$0.332
Ex-dividend date08/27/202608/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose OVL if you are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout. Choose WTPI if you want to maximize current income — roughly 12.07%, generated by selling options premium. OVL and WTPI both use option or derivative overlays. Their tradeoff is the underlying exposure, how each option strategy is implemented, and the yield each targets; either overlay can limit upside participation, so neither offers uncapped price exposure.

A call overlay versus equity premium income

OVL overlays calls on large-cap equities. WTPI is an equity premium income fund. Implementation differs.

OVLWTPI
ApproachLarge-cap call overlayEquity premium income
Expense ratio0.79%0.44%
Distribution yield10.43%12.07%
Fund size$443M$528M

How the risk works

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

  • Capped upside and premium dependence. OVL and WTPI generate income by selling options, which trades away part of a strong rally in exchange for premium. Distributions can include return of capital, and a payout the underlying assets cannot sustain shows up as NAV erosion over time — the big yield number is not free.

Income calculator

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

ETFs7
Total AUM$805M

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

Overlay Shares operates a focused lineup of four income-focused ETFs designed to generate regular distributions for investors. The company specializes in option overlay strategies that aim to enhance yield through covered call and similar income-generating techniques, with its funds trading under tickers OVF, OVL, OVLH, and OVS. This niche approach to dividend enhancement differentiates Overlay Shares within the broader ETF marketplace, appealing to investors seeking higher current income through systematic option strategies.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on OVL.

ETFs94
Total AUM$102B

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

WisdomTree is known for developing thematic and factor-based ETFs that go beyond traditional market-cap weighting approaches. The issuer maintains a broad lineup spanning dividend and income strategies, international equities, commodities, bonds, digital assets, and specialized thematic areas like megatrends and alternatives. WisdomTree's diverse fund family appeals to investors seeking both traditional income exposure and more specialized strategies, with popular tickers across equity, fixed income, and alternative asset classes.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on WTPI.

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Quick verdict

OVL (Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF) and WTPI (WisdomTree Equity Premium Income Fund) are both monthly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

WTPI offers the higher yield at 12.07% vs 10.43% for OVL. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

WTPI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.44% compared to 0.79%.

WTPI is the larger fund by assets ($528M), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, OVL would generate roughly $86.92/month, while WTPI would produce $100.58/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay monthly distributions.

OVL yield10.43%
WTPI yield12.07%
Monthly diff on $10K$13.67

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, OVL would cost approximately $790 in fees vs $440 for WTPI (simplified, not compounded). The $350.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

OVL ER0.79%
WTPI ER0.44%

Strategy & risk

OVL tracks S&P 500 (VOO) with a fund of funds approach, while WTPI is an ETF built around a derivative overlay strategy. Beta is 1.17 for OVL and 0.58 for WTPI, making WTPI the less volatile of the two by this measure.

OVL beta1.17
WTPI beta0.58

Fund details

OVL is managed by Overlay Shares (launched 09/30/2019) with $443M in assets. WTPI is managed by WisdomTree (launched 02/24/2016) with $528M in assets.

OVL AUM$443M
WTPI AUM$528M

Enjoyed this page?

Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between OVL and WTPI?

OVL (Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF) overlays calls on large-cap equities. WTPI (WisdomTree Equity Premium Income Fund) is an equity premium income fund. Both keep equity downside; the overlay differs. Cost is 0.79% versus 0.44%. Distributions are 10.43% and 12.07% as of September 2026. Implementation, not headline yield, is the split.

Is PUTW the same as WTPI?

Yes — same fund, new ticker. WisdomTree renamed the WisdomTree Equity Premium Income Fund from PUTW to WTPI; the strategy and holdings carried over unchanged, and existing shareholders kept their position under the new symbol. So results for "PUTW" are answered by WTPI's numbers: 12.07% distribution yield at a 0.44% expense ratio, with $528M in assets as of September 2026.

What is the current distribution rate for OVL and WTPI?

OVL currently distributes 10.43% and WTPI 12.07%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is OVL or WTPI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. WTPI currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

Is OVL or WTPI safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — OVL scores 92, WTPI scores 62, so OVL's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. WTPI has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.58 vs 1.17 for OVL). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee, and the leverage, options-income, or crypto caveats flagged on this page apply regardless of score.

Which has lower fees, OVL or WTPI?

OVL has an expense ratio of 0.79% while WTPI charges 0.44%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in OVL vs WTPI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in OVL would generate roughly $86.92 per month ($1,043.00 annually). The same in WTPI would produce about $100.58 per month ($1,207.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, OVL or WTPI?

OVL has outpaced WTPI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.89% total return against 12.22%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: OVL has compounded at 13.16% a year, against 9.33% for WTPI. WTPI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 11.5% against 18.7% for OVL. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

OVL vs WTPI — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

OVL and WTPI are both equity ETFs that layer options strategies atop stock exposure to boost income beyond traditional dividends. OVL runs a put-selling overlay on S&P 500 holdings (via VOO), while WTPI uses covered calls on a diversified equity portfolio. The key difference: OVL targets additional income by selling downside protection; WTPI caps upside to fund distributions, and reports a markedly lower beta.

How they differ

The strategies diverge at their core. OVL sells puts to collect premiums while maintaining full S&P 500 upside exposure (beta of 1.17), whereas WTPI sells covered calls that limit gains (beta of 0.58). This structural choice cascades through the funds: WTPI's distribution rate of 12.07% exceeds OVL's 10.43%, but WTPI sacrifices capital appreciation in exchange. On cost, WTPI's expense ratio of 0.44% is cheaper than OVL's 0.79%, though both charge less than active management. AUM is similar—WTPI has $528M versus OVL's $443M—suggesting comparable investor adoption.

Who each is best for

* OVL: Fits investors seeking equity market participation with downside income generation, comfortable with the leverage and tail-risk dynamics of put-selling, and willing to accept occasional forced stock purchases if puts are exercised in-the-money.

* WTPI: Fits investors prioritizing steady monthly income over capital appreciation, with lower volatility tolerance, and willing to forgo outsized gains in exchange for a dampened drawdown profile and a higher current yield.

Key risks to know

* Put-selling assignment risk (OVL): If the S&P 500 declines sharply, OVL may be forced to purchase stock at strike prices above current market levels, locking in losses and increasing cash drag.

* Covered-call cap on gains (WTPI): Call selling systematically transfers upside beyond the strike to the option buyer; in a rallying market, WTPI's returns will lag the broader equity index by design.

* NAV erosion at elevated distribution yields: Both funds distribute 10.43% and 12.07% annually. If underlying equity returns fall short, distributions may rely increasingly on return of capital, eroding net asset value over time.

* Beta and volatility mismatch: OVL's beta of 1.17 suggests amplified market sensitivity, potentially magnifying losses in a downturn despite put-selling intent. WTPI's 0.58 implies lower correlation to broad equities, raising questions about whether the fund behaves more like a bond substitute than an equity holding.

Bottom line

OVL pursues growth with income overlay; WTPI sacrifices growth for income certainty. If you prioritize a lower-volatility income stream and accept capped upside, WTPI's covered-call structure and materially cheaper expense ratio offer a different tradeoff. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and both funds' elevated yields warrant scrutiny of the underlying equity environment and option market conditions.

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.

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.