A head-to-head comparison of Defiance S&P 500 Target 30 Weekly Distribution ETF and Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Data updated August 7, 2026
Best for
WDTEInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 30.23%, generated by selling options premium.
XYLDInvestors who are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Defiance ETFs is known for offering specialized and thematic investment strategies that cater to niche market segments and alternative income approaches. The issuer's lineup spans income-focused funds, leveraged strategies, combinations of leverage with income generation, and thematic products tied to emerging trends and sectors. Defiance emphasizes non-traditional and differentiated strategies rather than broad-based index exposure, appealing to investors seeking targeted exposure beyond conventional ETF offerings.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on WDTE.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Global X is known for developing thematic and alternative investment ETFs with a strong emphasis on income-generating strategies. Their 37-fund lineup spans diverse categories including covered call funds, SuperDividend income products, digital assets, commodities, and sector-specific investments, alongside traditional bond and risk-managed income options. Notable tickers like DIV, MLPA, and BCCC reflect their specialization in high-yield and alternative income strategies, positioning them as a provider focused on investors seeking yield-oriented and thematically-driven exposure.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on XYLD.
Defiance S&P 500 Target 30 Weekly Distribution ETF
Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF
Issuer
Defiance ETFs
Global X
Last Close
$29.90 as of August 7, 2026
$41.52 as of August 7, 2026
Distribution yield
30.23%
11.82%
Distribution Safety Score™
74
77
Expense ratio
1.03%
0.60%
AUM
$65.5M
$3.24B
Distribution frequency
Weekly
Monthly
Underlying index
S&P 500
S&P 500 Index
Objective
Actively managed fund that seeks weekly income while maintaining indirect exposure to the S&P 500 Index, subject to a limit on potential gains from increases in the index.
Seeks monthly income by tracking the Cboe S&P 500 BuyWrite Index, investing at least 80% of total assets in the index securities or instruments with similar economic characteristics.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
07/16/2024
06/24/2013
Beta
0.7932
0.41
Last dividend
$0.1738
$0.4088
Ex-dividend date
08/06/2026
07/20/2026
Bottom lineChoose WDTE if you want to maximize current income — roughly 30.23%, generated by selling options premium. Choose XYLD if you are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout. There's no free lunch: WDTE's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while XYLD keeps full price exposure.
Most used
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
WDTE has outpaced XYLD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.11% total return against 18.96%. The lead holds up over 3 years too: WDTE has compounded at 14.48% a year, against 12.00% for XYLD. XYLD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 10.3% against 13.8% for WDTE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 6, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Sep 2023” measures every fund from September 19, 2023 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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.
Quick verdict
WDTE (Defiance S&P 500 Target 30 Weekly Distribution ETF) and XYLD (Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
WDTE offers the higher yield at 30.23% vs 11.82% for XYLD. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
XYLD is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.60% compared to 1.03%.
They track different benchmarks: WDTE is linked to S&P 500 while XYLD tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
XYLD is the larger fund by assets ($3.24B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose WDTE
Defiance S&P 500 Target 30 Weekly Distribution ETF
Want to maximize current income — WDTE distributes roughly 30.23% from selling options premium, vs 11.82% for XYLD.
Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
Choose XYLD
Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF
Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.60% expense ratio vs 1.03% for WDTE.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.4 vs 0.8 for WDTE.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track WDTE & XYLD for free
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On a $10,000 investment, WDTE would generate roughly $251.92/month, while XYLD would produce $98.50/month, at current distribution rates.
WDTE yield30.23%
XYLD yield11.82%
Monthly diff on $10K$153.42
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, WDTE would cost approximately $1,030 in fees vs $600 for XYLD (simplified, not compounded). The $430.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
WDTE ER1.03%
XYLD ER0.60%
Strategy & risk
Both WDTE and XYLD wrap S&P 500 with options-based income overlays (options and covered call). The practical differences are yield target, fee structure, and issuer track record — not the underlying mechanic. Beta is 0.7932 for WDTE and 0.41 for XYLD, indicating XYLD is less volatile relative to the market.
WDTE beta0.7932
XYLD beta0.41
Fund details
WDTE is managed by Defiance ETFs (launched 07/16/2024) with $65.5M in assets. XYLD is managed by Global X (launched 06/24/2013) with $3.24B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution yield for WDTE and XYLD?
WDTE currently distributes 30.23% and XYLD 11.82%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is WDTE or XYLD better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. WDTE 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.
What is the difference between WDTE and XYLD?
Both WDTE (Defiance S&P 500 Target 30 Weekly Distribution ETF) and XYLD (Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF) track S&P 500 with options-based income strategies — the labels "options" and "covered call" describe closely related mechanics (covered calls are a specific type of options strategy). The real differences show up in yield target (30.23% vs 11.82%), expense ratio (1.03% vs 0.60%), and issuer (Defiance ETFs vs Global X).
Can I hold both WDTE and XYLD?
You can, but expect significant overlap. Both funds use options-based income strategies on S&P 500, so holding them together gives you two wrappers around effectively the same exposure — not true diversification. Weigh issuer, fee, and yield differences rather than treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, WDTE or XYLD?
WDTE has an expense ratio of 1.03% while XYLD charges 0.60%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in WDTE vs XYLD generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in WDTE would generate roughly $251.92 per month ($3,023.00 annually). The same in XYLD would produce about $98.50 per month ($1,182.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, WDTE or XYLD?
WDTE has outpaced XYLD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.11% total return against 18.96%. The lead holds up over 3 years too: WDTE has compounded at 14.48% a year, against 12.00% for XYLD. XYLD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 10.3% against 13.8% for WDTE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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