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BUYW Main BuyWrite ETF

Covered call on SPY, paying monthly

Over the year to Sep 11, 2026, BUYW paid 6.1% in cash and still finished 8.2 points behind SPY.

Main · Income ETFs · data as of

Key facts

6.1%Cash paid, 1 year, on its starting price
+9.3%Total return, 1 year
−8.2 ptsAgainst SPY
6.0%Latest payout, annualized

Method

ETFIQ Return Stability Score

54.166th of 161

BUYW paid 6.1% in cash and its price rose 2.9%, so the payout came out of returns rather than principal.

Was the payout funded by returns, or by your own capital?

Against its benchmark
MLPD −38.1 ptsMDST −30.2 ptsSLTY −29.1 ptsBLOX −27.8 ptsEIPI −27.8 ptsYQQQ −27.6 ptsULTY −23.3 ptsGDXY −22.0 ptsHIGH −20.8 ptsTOPW −18.6 ptsTDVI −18.3 ptsYMAX −18.1 ptsHISF −17.3 ptsACKY −17.2 ptsWEEI −16.9 ptsNDIV −16.6 ptsLQDW −16.2 ptsOARK −15.8 ptsFDND −15.5 ptsTCAL −15.0 ptsQRMI −14.8 ptsSDVD −14.8 ptsLFGY −14.5 ptsSLJY −14.5 ptsSCLZ −14.1 ptsYFYA −13.9 ptsQUSA −13.5 ptsHYGW −13.0 ptsJULH −13.0 ptsXLRI −13.0 ptsMAGY −12.9 ptsYYY −12.7 ptsXLKI −12.6 ptsJULJ −12.4 ptsLJUL −12.4 ptsJANJ −12.3 ptsLJAN −12.3 ptsFGSI −12.2 ptsLOCT −12.1 ptsRNTY −12.1 ptsAIPI −12.0 ptsIWMY −12.0 ptsOCTJ −11.9 ptsHIPS −11.7 ptsJUCY −11.6 ptsXLEI −11.6 ptsAPRJ −11.3 ptsLAPR −11.3 ptsXISE −11.3 ptsXIJN −11.1 ptsCVRD −11.0 ptsJANH −11.0 ptsAPRH −10.9 ptsXBTY −10.7 ptsXIDE −10.7 ptsOCTH −10.6 ptsJEPI −10.3 ptsXIMR −10.1 ptsSRHR −9.7 ptsXRMI −8.7 ptsVEGA −8.3 ptsIAUI −7.9 ptsBAGY −7.7 ptsXV −7.5 ptsKHPI −7.3 ptsYBTC −7.3 ptsFTHI −7.0 ptsYLDE −6.8 ptsIGLD −6.1 ptsQQQI −6.1 ptsRDVI −6.0 ptsSPIN −5.9 ptsFEPI −5.8 ptsIWMW −5.8 ptsTYLG −5.7 ptsBITY −5.6 ptsSPUT −5.4 ptsWTPI −5.2 ptsPAPI −4.7 ptsXLVI −4.7 ptsETCO −4.3 ptsJEPQ −4.1 ptsCAIE −4.0 ptsFTKI −3.9 ptsGPTY −3.7 ptsIQQQ −3.7 ptsGIAX −3.4 ptsBIGY −3.3 ptsISPY −3.1 ptsRYLD −3.1 ptsWEEL −2.9 ptsYMAG −2.9 ptsRDTY −2.6 ptsXLBI −2.5 ptsNBOS −1.8 ptsRYLG −1.8 ptsSPYI −1.7 ptsFTQI −1.6 ptsKNG −1.6 ptsTSPY −1.6 ptsTHTA −1.5 ptsQQQY −1.3 ptsRDTE −1.3 ptsDIVO −1.2 ptsSIXH −1.2 ptsXYLD −1.2 ptsDFII −1.1 ptsGPIQ −1.1 ptsQDTY −1.1 ptsXYLG −1.1 ptsXDTE −0.9 ptsQDTE −0.7 ptsQYLD −0.7 ptsXLII −0.7 ptsXPAY −0.7 ptsEGGY −0.6 ptsJOYT −0.6 ptsSDTY −0.6 ptsWDTE −0.4 ptsBTCC −0.3 ptsQYLG −0.3 ptsGPIX 0.0 ptsDJIA +0.1 ptsDYLG +0.3 ptsIWMI +0.3 ptsKGLD +0.3 ptsXLFI +0.3 ptsIVVW +0.4 ptsLTTI +0.5 ptsLQTI +0.6 ptsPBP +0.6 ptsHYTI +0.9 ptsTDAQ +0.9 ptsCSHI +1.3 ptsBALI +1.4 ptsYETH +1.5 ptsHYBL +1.6 ptsXLUI +1.6 ptsCHPY +1.9 ptsBTCI +2.1 ptsSOXY +2.3 ptsITWO +2.5 ptsDOGG +2.7 ptsCEPI +2.9 ptsXLYI +2.9 ptsYBIT +2.9 ptsTLTP +3.4 ptsDUBS +4.0 ptsSEPI +4.7 ptsXLCI +5.2 ptsIDVO +5.4 ptsTLTW +5.4 ptsBCCC +6.3 ptsOMAH +6.5 ptsIDUB +6.9 ptsXLSI +8.8 ptsUSOY +10.5 ptsBUCK +10.9 ptsKLIP +20.9 ptsNVYY +24.6 ptsBUYW −8.2 ptsBUYW −8.2 pts−38.1 pts+24.6 pts

38.2% of the 161 sit at or below BUYW on this measure.

What happened to the principal
ETCO −75.0%XBTY −74.7%YETH −67.4%YBTC −61.4%BTCC −59.9%YBIT −58.9%BAGY −58.0%SLTY −54.4%ULTY −53.3%NVYY −52.4%BITY −51.9%BCCC −49.4%BTCI −46.9%DFII −44.8%LFGY −43.0%YMAX −41.0%BLOX −38.8%TOPW −36.6%OARK −33.3%KLIP −32.8%GDXY −32.5%YMAG −27.1%YQQQ −26.3%MAGY −25.8%IWMY −23.1%CEPI −21.0%RDTY −19.9%RDTE −19.4%QDTE −18.5%EGGY −15.1%TLTP −14.5%XLYI −14.1%LTTI −13.8%ACKY −13.7%WDTE −13.7%QQQY −13.0%QDTY −12.8%XDTE −12.8%AIPI −12.2%QUSA −11.8%LQTI −10.4%TLTW −10.3%SDTY −9.9%GIAX −9.8%XLUI −9.5%HIGH −9.3%LQDW −9.3%TCAL −9.0%FEPI −8.5%XV −8.4%IGLD −8.1%XLRI −8.0%XLCI −7.9%FDND −7.6%YYY −7.5%XLSI −7.3%RNTY −6.5%HYTI −6.3%GPTY −6.0%OMAH −6.0%XLBI −5.7%HYGW −5.6%IWMW −5.3%HIPS −5.2%XPAY −4.9%HISF −4.7%QRMI −4.2%USOY −4.0%XLFI −3.8%FGSI −3.2%BUCK −2.5%HYBL −2.5%JUCY −2.3%XRMI −2.3%MLPD −1.7%CAIE −1.6%IAUI −1.6%YFYA −1.6%IVVW −1.4%CVRD −1.3%JEPI −1.1%KNG −0.9%XIJN −0.7%JULJ −0.6%WTPI −0.5%CSHI −0.4%JULH −0.3%LJUL −0.2%XISE 0.0%JANH +0.1%JANJ +0.1%LAPR +0.1%LOCT +0.1%LJAN +0.2%OCTJ +0.2%XLII +0.2%APRJ +0.3%OCTH +0.3%XIDE +0.3%XIMR +0.4%APRH +0.5%TSPY +0.6%KHPI +0.7%BIGY +0.8%WEEL +0.9%SRHR +1.0%FTHI +1.1%QQQI +1.5%XLVI +2.1%SPYI +2.6%QYLG +2.8%YLDE +2.8%SDVD +3.0%XYLG +3.4%KGLD +3.8%THTA +3.9%DJIA +4.2%FTKI +4.3%SCLZ +4.4%PAPI +4.5%RYLD +4.7%XLKI +5.0%PBP +5.1%IWMI +5.3%DYLG +5.4%TDAQ +5.9%XYLD +5.9%JEPQ +6.0%SPIN +6.1%NBOS +6.5%SPUT +6.5%RYLG +7.1%GPIX +7.9%FTQI +8.0%DOGG +8.2%ISPY +8.4%QYLD +8.4%DIVO +8.9%MDST +9.3%VEGA +9.4%BALI +9.5%GPIQ +9.8%SLJY +11.0%RDVI +11.7%TDVI +11.7%IQQQ +12.3%SEPI +13.8%XLEI +13.8%SIXH +14.1%ITWO +14.3%EIPI +14.6%JOYT +16.1%IDVO +16.4%DUBS +18.9%WEEI +18.9%IDUB +19.0%TYLG +21.2%NDIV +22.9%CHPY +24.9%SOXY +68.6%BUYW +2.9%BUYW +2.9%−75.0%+68.6%

69.9% of the 161 sit at or below BUYW on this measure.

Weighted evenly, those two positions are what the score combines, across the 161 income ETFs writing on an index or proxy. Neither spread above is the score: a fund can sit further right on one and score lower. A position in this set, not a rating: it moves when the set moves, and it is not a figure to average against another desk's.

What the score is computed from
What it measuresThis fundIts percentileWeight
against its benchmark−8.2 pts38.250%
what happened to the principal+2.9%69.950%

All income ETFs ranked by this score · How it is computed

24th of 354 income ETFs by net assets

What a holder got

BUYW against SPYBUYW returned +9.3% with distributions reinvested against +17.5% for S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy, a gap of −8.2 pts. Of that, 6.1% arrived as cash rather than price.+9.3%BUYW total return+17.5%S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy6.1% of it arrived as cash

Over the year to Sep 11, 2026, BUYW returned +9.3% with distributions reinvested and S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy returned +17.5%, so a holder came out behind it by 8.2 points. The lighter segment is the 6.1% that arrived as cash rather than as price.

Its ten largest equity positions

BUYW top ten by weight, 100.0% of its 8 equity positions, from the holdings filed for Apr 30, 2026. The options the fund writes are not positions of this kind and are not listed. Source: the fund’s SEC filing.
HoldingWeight
SPDR SERIES TRUST36.53%
ISHARES TRUST13.70%
SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST (THE)11.63%
INVESCO EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND TRUST II9.88%
SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST (THE)9.71%
SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST (THE)9.30%
SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST (THE)8.21%
ISHARES TRUST1.05%

Method

Period by period

BUYW over each window to Sep 11, 2026. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation. Source: ETFIQ.
WindowCash paidPriceTotal returnSPYAhead or behind
3 months1.5%+1.1%+2.6%+3.3%−0.7 pts
6 months3.1%+3.3%+6.5%+16.0%−9.5 pts
1 year6.1%+2.9%+9.3%+17.5%−8.2 pts
3 years18.6%+8.0%+29.3%+77.9%−48.6 pts
Since launch24.7%+16.1%+45.4%+96.2%−50.8 pts

Method

When BUYW pays

BUYW pays monthly. The last distribution was $0.073 a share, which went ex on Aug 26, 2026, with payment about 2 days later. The next has not been declared. On its own cadence of about 29 days the ex-date falls near Sep 24, 2026; that date is an ETFIQ projection, not the issuer’s.

Expected distributions for BUYW. Where the basis is a projection, ETFIQ has carried the fund’s own spacing forward from its last ex-date and held the amount at the last one paid; neither is an issuer statement. Source: ETFIQ.
Ex-datePay dateAmountBasis
Sep 24, 2026Sep 28, 2026$0.073ETFIQ projection from the fund’s own cadence
Oct 23, 2026Oct 26, 2026$0.073ETFIQ projection from the fund’s own cadence
Every distribution ETFIQ holds for BUYW (13, most recent first)
Cash distributions per share for BUYW. Source: ETFIQ from Tiingo end-of-day distributions.
Ex-dateAmount
Aug 26, 2026$0.073
Jul 24, 2026$0.0728
Jun 25, 2026$0.0722
May 21, 2026$0.0721
Apr 23, 2026$0.0718
Mar 26, 2026$0.0705
Feb 19, 2026$0.0714
Jan 22, 2026$0.0715
Dec 23, 2025$0.0716
Nov 21, 2025$0.0708
Oct 24, 2025$0.0712
Sep 23, 2025$0.0711
Aug 22, 2025$0.0709

Every income ETF going ex-dividend in the next fortnight

Method

In plain words

Since it launched on Sep 12, 2022, BUYW has returned +45.4% with distributions reinvested, against +96.2% for S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy, and has paid out 24.7% of its starting value in cash along the way. It pays monthly, and at its current price the latest distribution annualizes to 6.0%. No Rule 19a-1 notice has been published for this fund, so there is no issuer estimate of how much of its distributions was a return of capital.

BUYW (Main BuyWrite ETF), income ETFs fields as of Sep 11, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
Strategycovered call
BenchmarkS&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy (proxy)
Paysmonthly
Net assets (SEC filing, whole fund, as filed for Apr 30, 2026)$1.2bn
Latest payout, annualized (ETFIQ)6.0%
Expense ratio (485BPOS XBRL, Feb 24, 2026)0.99%
Cash paid, last 12 months, over today’s price (ETFIQ)5.9%
LaunchedSep 12, 2022
Paysmonthly
Typical gap between ex-dates29 days
Typical wait from ex-date to payment2 days
Last paid, per share$0.073 ex Aug 26, 2026
Sum of the last 12 distributions$0.86

Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation from exchange prices and cash distributions (Tiingo end-of-day), total return with distributions reinvested. Return of capital is the issuer’s estimate. How these figures are computed

Questions people ask

How much has BUYW paid over the last year?
Over the year to Sep 11, 2026, BUYW paid 6.1% of its starting price in cash distributions, while the price rose 2.9%.
Is BUYW ahead of SPY?
Over the year to Sep 11, 2026, with every distribution reinvested, BUYW returned +9.3% against +17.5% for S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy, so a holder was behind it by 8.2 points.
How often does BUYW pay, and how much?
BUYW pays monthly. The latest distribution annualizes to 6.0% at its price on Sep 11, 2026, which is not a promise; the next one can differ.
When does BUYW next pay a distribution?
BUYW pays monthly. The last distribution went ex on Aug 26, 2026 at $0.073 a share. The next is not declared; on a cadence of about 29 days the ex-date falls near Sep 24, 2026, which is an ETFIQ projection. Payment usually follows the ex-date by 2 days.
What does BUYW cost?
The prospectus expense ratio is 0.99% a year.

The words on this page

Total return
What a holder actually ended up with: price change plus every distribution, reinvested. The only figure that answers whether you came out ahead.
Cash paid
Distributions over the window as a share of what the fund cost at the start. A measure of cash delivered, not of return: a fund can pay a great deal and still lose money.
Ahead or behind
The fund’s total return minus the benchmark’s over exactly the same days, in percentage points. Both sides reinvest.
Return of capital
The issuer’s own estimate, in a Rule 19a-1 notice, of how much of a distribution was your own money returned. An estimate and a tax characterization, not a measure of erosion.
Covered call
Selling call options on shares the fund holds. It collects a premium and gives up the gains above the strike, which is why these funds pay well and lag a rising market.

Every term used here, defined in full on the income ETFs vocabulary page.

Where these figures came from

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.

Funds near this one

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Where BUYW is written about

BUYW, Income ETFs, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 11, 2026. Every figure is arithmetic on a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. ETFIQ is an independent publisher, is not a fund issuer, broker-dealer or investment adviser, and makes no recommendations.
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Open BUYW live on ETFIQ, where the figures refresh with the data.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, BUYW, income ETFs, data as of Sep 11, 2026. https://etfiq.com/funds/buyw Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

How these figures are computed · Standards and sources