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BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETFZWB.TOBUYMay 08, 2015Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 22, 2026. Market Open.
Our favourite covered call ETFs involve underlying assets that have a history of appreciating over time. For that reason, we like is the BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB). It has a 7.5% distribution yield, a higher AUM of $2.9B, and over the past 10 years it has returned 8.1% annually with distributions reinvested.
For investors seeking monthly income, covered calls can be a good approach, however, for the average investor we do not typically like the cap on price appreciation that covered call ETFs have, and for an uptrending market, we would prefer to own the underlying assets outright rather than covered calls.
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Banks now may not be star performers as in the last 30 years. Interest rates are rising now and could stay this way for a while. Loan loss provisions will increase in a weakening economy. But of this class, he likes ZEB and ZWB (a covered call one for income) which he prefers, because he expects banks to be sideways and the covered call will enhance returns. You could buy a combination of the two.
This had been one of his Top Picks and he still likes and holds it. Likes the returns he has been getting. About 60% of this has Covered Calls on it. Has done very well in a rising market, but is going to get beaten up when the market backs off a little bit. However, the covered calls tend to mollify that a little.