Stockchase Opinions

Larry Berman CFA, CMT, CTABMO US High Dividend Covered Call ETFZWH.TOBUYJun 17, 2024

Good option for dividend oriented investors. However, must be aware of tax implications. 

$23.35

Stock price when the opinion was issued

$26.60

As of May 28, 2026. Market Open.

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TOP PICK

Main thing is it's not leveraged. Holds all the big, household names. Dividends are small on US stocks, so most of the premium you're getting is from the covered calls which are capital gains. Hasn't come back from April because it doesn't have all the super-charged tech stocks. Yield is around 6-6.5%.

BUY

BMO has the biggest suite of covered call strategies around the world. For US high-dividend covered-call strategies, ZWS or ZWH are really good (one hedged, one not).

BUY

Good for US market exposure. 
Buying stock right now.
Good value proposition. 

BUY

Likes it.

BUY

Attractive at current share price.
Comprised of wide variety of blue chip stocks.
~5% divided yield good for income investors.

BUY
Likes it. The higher dividend version of covered calls on the US market.
TOP PICK
Likes it as a sector play--high-dividend US stocks--and for the dividend of 6%. It's broadly based, and bonds don't pay much or anything.
BUY
A good quality holding. Depends what you are holding out of an investment. Provides more income with the covered calls. In a high growth market, you do underperform. Good for income investors.
BUY
The yield is in the 5.5%-6% range. A covered call strategy that is pretty sustainable. A group of good quality high dividend paying companies with covered call for yield enhancement. If you are bullish, you could miss out on some returns but in a sideways to down market, a prudent choice.
COMMENT
There is space for these ETFs for yield seekers. One of the challenges in 2020 was that dividend paying stocks did terrible relative to technology that does not pay dividends. Still likes them for conservative investors.
HOLD
They are both high dividend covered call ETFs. They have underperformed compared to tech and growth stocks. If you want good dividend paying stocks, it is a fine investment for buy and hold. They only write the options on half the positions to enhance yield.
WEAK BUY
ZWE-T vs. ZWH-T. With covered calls, when you are in a slightly up or down or sideways market, the call brings in a premium and dampens the volatility. But when it is in a very strong uptrend, the covered write lops off the top of the uptrend. The upside is capped. In a sharp declined followed by a snap-back rally, the same thing applies. You should have both for covered write portfolios to increase diversification if you are going to have them.
COMMENT

At market bottoms you don’t want ETFs with covered calls like ZWH-T because you are giving away some of the upside. You want ZDY-T or the currency hedged version of that. CYH-T is a benchmark for world dividends. It is a Canadian dollar currency hedged ETF. TDIV-Q is a technology dividend play.

WAIT
High dividend covered call strategy. These ETFs are the way to go. They have slightly lower beta and you get a much better yield. You don’t want to own these after a big sell-off.