TSE:ZWU

BMO Covered Call Utilities ETF (ZWU.TO)

11.34
-0.02 (0.18%)
as of Sep 4, 2026, 7:59:57 pm Market Open.
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Investor Insights
star iconSep 4, 2026, 12:00 am

This summary was created by AI, based on 18 opinions in the last 12 months.

The BMO Covered Call Utilities ETF (ZWU) is viewed favorably by various experts, primarily for its ability to provide a stable income through a covered call strategy and its exposure to the utility sector, which is becoming increasingly significant amid rising power demand. Despite concerns about interest rate sensitivity, many analysts highlight ZWU's potential for defensive income, noting its attractive yield of approximately 6-8%. While some experts caution against concentrating investments in a single sector, they affirm that ZWU remains a solid choice for income-seeking investors looking for tax-efficient options. The ETF is recognized for its diversified holdings within utilities, telecommunications, and pipelines, suggesting a generally positive outlook, particularly with the growth of data centers and the ongoing demand for electricity in the U.S. Overall, the sentiment leans towards ZWU being a reliable component of a diversified portfolio, especially in the current economic climate.

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Consensus
Positive
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Valuation
Fair Value
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HOLD
You will own Canadian utility companies, while they right covered calls. If you think the market is going sideways, it would be a good play. He likes the dividends utilities spit out. Yield 7.8%
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Apr 02/19, Down 8%) He sold out of this one a while ago. Covered call strategies are good in flat to rising markets, not so much during down turns.
WATCH
There is more volatility to come. The government of Canada wants to minimize the energy industry. There is a serious push for climate change. You'll get a lot more support in the US than in Canada, but you have to consider the tax implications if it is a cash account instead of a registered account. The current situation will require cuts from every nation.
HOLD

With volatility higher now, you get more premium when you write covered calls. After major market declines, you don't get the same bounce back with the covered call overlay. He has not added it recently. He prefers ZUT-T or stay with ZWU-T for the yield.

DON'T BUY
This covered call utility ETF holds a portfolio of utility stocks that sells call options. This caps the upside for any potential recovery. Even with the premiums and dividends collected it has lagged a typical utility ETF. You end up taking 90% of the downside but only 50% of the upside. In a sideways market it can enhance your returns, but lags other in a bull market. He would pass on this one.
PARTIAL BUY
The pipeline component is probably the most volatile. The dividend comes from the option premium and the utilities. It is probably at a point where you can put a half to a third of the money you are thinking of to work.
BUY ON WEAKNESS
The corona virus could make for a couple of ugly quarters globally. Global growth is downgraded to basically zero. We saw a trading dip to $13 below which he suggested in the past you get into this but he would be looking below $13 now and have some patience here.
COMMENT
A US ETF in infrastructure or utilities? Can't think of an infrastructure one, but ZWU holds Canadian as well as American utilities.
WAIT
Covered call Utilities, pipelines and telcos. It has not gone up and he has not sold it, but it could pull back 10% in a broad market correction. ZPAY-T combined with ZWU-T would give a nice diversified exposure. He would wait for pullbacks to deploy new money.
DON'T BUY
He wouldn't buy this now. It's up over 20%. He doesn't like covered calls usually. Chasing dividends could mean that you are taking on underlying risk. It's probably too late to enter.
WATCH
He loves the dividend and the strategy. He is the biggest holder of this fund by a long shot. Around $14 he finds he does not love it for capital growth. If we get a pull back then he would go for it.
COMMENT
He likes it for cash-flow with excellent yield. A great alternative to bond funds. There’s a good spread of dividend paying companies. The dividends are relatively safe. It hovers around $14. He would wait for a pullback below $14.
BUY

Harvest is the same as BMO except for being more global. ZWU-T has been outperforming HUTL-T over the last year or so because the European stocks have not performed as well as domestic or US stocks.

COMMENT
Yield is 6.25-6.5%, which is pretty good. If you believe the underlying securities will do well over the next few months, you're better off owning those securities as you'll get more in capital growth. But if you think they'll go sideways, you're better off with the ETF. Very defensive.
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Nov 30/18, Up 16%) The utilities surprised him by going through a flat period where they didn’t do well. If you’re searching for yield, this is a good ETF. A yield over 6 percent. A good place to park your money for cash-flow.
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