It is a large ETF with competitive fees. If you want to sell calls, having professionals do it is worth the cost. You can buy if you want to be in Canadian financials.
Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O’Reilly An ETF of Canadian banks with dividends enhanced by the use of writing covered calls managed by BMO. Canadian banks are a safe haven during periods of market volatility. This gives some additional premium to holding the banks. We recommend setting a stop loss at $16.00, looking to achieve 14%. Yield 7%
Covered calls can help volatility a bit and enhance yield. However Canadian banks are under pressure because of very high consumer debt, especially mortgage debt. Technically if you were to buy it use a stop loss at $17.75 which is not much lower than where it is now. Wait for something to resolve in the market.
Decent product, and not such a bad idea at this time. If you expect the banks to go up a lot, just buy the banks or an ETF without the covered call. Banks tend to show seasonal strength in mid-October. This is a safer way to play the banks, as they're facing headwinds, but will do OK.
This is a covered call writing ETF with a three year return of 36% and 0.8% MER. Covered call writing sometimes gives up upside. Could try ZEB where calls are not written for about 51% of the holdings. Or you might consider CIC - CI Canadian Banks Income Class ETF. It holds 75% of the basket without the call writing on it. Same yield as ZEB.
Core holding, especially for more conservative investors who want yield. Banks have been beaten up because of concern about recession, but this is premature. Canadian banks are in pretty good shape from a credit point of view. Yield around 6%.
They only write the covered calls on half the position, so you get more upside exposure than pure covered calls. For a more conservative play, ZWB has a covered call strategy on banks. Nothing is risk free however. Does not think there will be a big recession.
Domestically, he doesn't generally use ETFs, saving those for foreign exposure instead. Overall, banks are good to be in right now, given world uncertainties. Rules being relaxed means share buybacks and dividend increases. Earnings potential over the next year will stall out, until the economy gets more settled. Prime area to hold for safety.
Question on underlying dividend increase. ZEB yields will rise with dividend increases from the underlying stocks. For ZWB, the dividend increase will increase yield, but much of the performance comes from the volatility and the premium.
ZWB vs. ZEB He prefers ZEB, with a lower management fee. ZWB has a higher yield at 5%, instead of 3.1%. ZEB has outperformed the covered call strategy. You want to own the underlying securities without being called out. Covered call strategy works better in a sideways or downwards market. But if the the market's falling, you probably don't want to own either.
If the Trudeau government wins, then they will impose a surtax. He would wait here since it is not priced in probably. There is also volatility from Chinese real estate and US debt ceiling. Gotta love Canadian banks long term. Could get a better deal.
BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) Frequently Asked Questions
What is BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF stock symbol?
BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF is a Canadian stock, trading under the symbol ZWB.TO (previously ZWB-T on Stockchase) on the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZWB-CT). It is usually referred to as TSX:ZWB or ZWB.TO
Is BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF a buy or a sell?