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  5. ZWC: Options ETFs. [BMO Canadian High Dividend Covered Call ETF]
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Investment Q&A

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Q: Options ETFs. Is there any advice on using these ETFs (Put and/or Call) as a portion of a portfolio to boast income? Thinking about 8% allocation. Do you have favorites?
Asked by Greg on March 20, 2026
5i Research Answer:

Some favourites include: ZWC, CNCC. These are multi-sector so are better for general allocation. There are several sector-specific funds available if desired. HDIV also, but it does use leverage so investors need to be comfortable with that.

Generally, we are comfortable with such funds. But, we would look at total returns. Many investors see high yields and forget about asset decay. These ETFs can lag in a market rally. In addition, they can still go down---a lot---in a market crash. The options can cushion the blow, but only a bit (5% to 7%, depending). So they should be considered equity funds in terms of risk and not fixed income. Fees can be high. A large component of distributions can be return of capital, which can at times be beneficial but also requires more tax documentation.