Funds that beat their benchmark
Income funds trade something for their payouts: a covered call fund gives up some of its stocks' upside for option income, and a dividend fund narrows its market to the payers. Over a year or three, did that trade pay? Pick a kind of fund to see what it's measured against.
Any fund against simply buying its latest published top 10 holdings at the start and holding them. The fund didn't necessarily hold those names, at those weights, all along, so treat this as a rough guide.
15 of 112 funds beat owning their top 10 over 3 years, to Nov 11, 2026. 3-year figures are the total over the three years, not a yearly rate.
Beat their top 10
| # | ETF | Fund | Top 10 | Difference | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LCS Brompton Lifeco Split Corp. Class A Shares · Brompton 1.8x leverage | +381.8% | +153.4% | +228.4% | 74 |
| 2 | LBS Life & Banc Split Corp. Class A Shares · Brompton 1.7x leverage | +293.2% | +168.6% | +124.6% | 81 |
| 3 | CBNK Mulvihill Canadian Bank Enhanced Yield · Mulvihill 1.25x leverage | +227.9% | +179.3% | +48.6% | 80 |
| 4 | DGS Dividend Growth Split Corp. Class A Shares · Brompton 2.3x leverage | +181.4% | +133.1% | +48.3% | 80 |
| 5 | HLIF Harvest Canadian Dividend Leaders Income · Harvest | +93.0% | +75.5% | +17.5% | 81 |
| 6 | HTAE Harvest Tech Leaders Enhanced Income · Harvest 1.25x leverage | +92.3% | +75.9% | +16.4% | 74 |
| 7 | CUD iShares US Dividend Growers Index (CAD-Hedged) · iShares | +44.4% | +30.2% | +14.2% | 69 |
| 8 | HDIF Harvest Diversified Monthly Income · Harvest 1.25x leverage | +76.2% | +63.6% | +12.6% | 83 |
| 9 | HUTE Harvest Utilities Leaders Enhanced Income · Harvest 1.25x leverage | +65.7% | +53.3% | +12.4% | 80 |
| 10 | BMAX Brompton Enhanced Multi-Asset Income · Brompton 1.33x leverage | +64.0% | +56.9% | +7.1% | 82 |
| 11 | HHLE Harvest Healthcare Leaders Enhanced Income · Harvest 1.25x leverage | +44.9% | +39.3% | +5.6% | 68 |
| 12 | PWI Power & Infrastructure Split Corp. Class A Shares · Brompton 2.1x leverage | +153.4% | +150.2% | +3.2% | 69 |
| 13 | BANK Evolve Canadian Banks and Lifecos Enhanced Yield Index · Evolve 1.25x leverage | +174.9% | +172.7% | +2.1% | 90 |
| 14 | HDIV Hamilton Enhanced Canadian Covered Call · Hamilton 1.25x leverage | +120.6% | +118.7% | +1.9% | 84 |
| 15 | HYLD Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call · Hamilton 1.25x leverage | +87.8% | +87.1% | +0.7% | 83 |
Trailed (97)
| # | ETF | Fund | Top 10 | Difference | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | ZWEN BMO Covered Call Energy · BMO | +71.1% | +71.5% | -0.5% | 76 |
| 17 | XDG iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index · iShares | +72.5% | +75.1% | -2.6% | 78 |
| 18 | XHU iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index · iShares | +79.6% | +82.7% | -3.1% | 74 |
| 19 | HRIF Harvest Diversified Equity Income · Harvest | +62.1% | +65.4% | -3.3% | 80 |
| 20 | BOND Evolve Enhanced Yield Bond · Evolve | +4.5% | +8.6% | -4.2% | 58 |
| 21 | XDU iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index · iShares | +69.4% | +76.3% | -6.9% | 75 |
| 22 | ZDH BMO International Dividend Hedged to CAD · BMO | +63.5% | +70.5% | -7.0% | 74 |
| 23 | HBND Hamilton U.S. Bond YIELD MAXIMIZER™ · Hamilton | +0.6% | +7.9% | -7.3% | 50 |
| 24 | HPYT Harvest Premium Yield Treasury · Harvest | -0.1% | +7.5% | -7.6% | 41 |
| 25 | XDIV iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index · iShares | +118.2% | +127.5% | -9.4% | 81 |
| 26 | ZHP BMO US Preferred Share Hedged to CAD Index · BMO | +4.5% | +13.9% | -9.4% | 54 |
| 27 | ZPH BMO US Put Write Hedged to CAD · BMO | +30.8% | +40.6% | -9.8% | 76 |
| 28 | ZWS BMO US High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD · BMO | +40.5% | +50.8% | -10.2% | 74 |
| 29 | ZWE BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD · BMO | +38.6% | +50.1% | -11.5% | 75 |
| 30 | ZUD BMO US Dividend Hedged to CAD · BMO | +63.8% | +75.3% | -11.5% | 70 |
| 31 | TUEX TD Active U.S. Enhanced Dividend CAD Hedged · TD | +49.8% | +61.7% | -11.9% | 68 |
| 32 | XDGH iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index (CAD-Hedged) · iShares | +59.7% | +71.6% | -11.9% | 76 |
| 33 | CDZ iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index · iShares | +83.3% | +95.2% | -12.0% | 78 |
| 34 | HPF Harvest Energy Leaders Income · Harvest | +56.5% | +68.7% | -12.2% | 69 |
| 35 | ZWQT BMO Global Enhanced Income · BMO | +62.2% | +76.3% | -14.1% | 77 |
| 36 | XDUH iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index (CAD-Hedged) · iShares | +55.2% | +69.5% | -14.3% | 70 |
| 37 | ENCL Global X Enhanced Canadian Oil And Gas Equity Covered Call · Global X 1.25x leverage | +84.3% | +99.2% | -14.8% | 78 |
| 38 | ZWK BMO Covered Call US Banks · BMO | +105.9% | +121.8% | -15.9% | 72 |
| 39 | VRE Vanguard FTSE Canadian Capped REIT Index · Vanguard | +27.5% | +44.1% | -16.6% | 70 |
| 40 | XHD iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index (CAD-Hedged) · iShares | +65.3% | +82.7% | -17.4% | 72 |
| 41 | XRE iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index · iShares | +24.1% | +42.3% | -18.2% | 69 |
| 42 | CYH iShares Global Monthly Dividend Index (CAD-Hedged) · iShares | +69.5% | +88.2% | -18.7% | 74 |
| 43 | SMAX Hamilton U.S. Equity YIELD MAXIMIZER™ · Hamilton | +85.5% | +106.4% | -20.9% | 83 |
| 44 | XEI iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index · iShares | +100.1% | +121.4% | -21.3% | 79 |
| 45 | CALL Evolve US Banks Enhanced Yield · Evolve | +93.3% | +114.7% | -21.4% | 78 |
| 46 | HTA Harvest Tech Leaders Income · Harvest | +75.8% | +101.9% | -26.1% | 80 |
| 47 | PHR Purpose Real Estate Income · Purpose | +34.2% | +60.4% | -26.3% | 68 |
| 48 | UMAX Hamilton Utilities YIELD MAXIMIZER™ · Hamilton | +32.8% | +60.9% | -28.1% | 74 |
| 49 | ENCC Global X Canadian Oil and Gas Equity Covered Call · Global X | +70.2% | +99.2% | -29.0% | 81 |
| 50 | HHL Harvest Healthcare Leaders Income · Harvest | +39.2% | +68.8% | -29.6% | 74 |
| 51 | GRCC Global X Growth Asset Allocation Covered Call · Global X | +53.0% | +82.9% | -29.9% | 75 |
| 52 | HBF Harvest US Equity Leaders Income · Harvest | +48.4% | +80.3% | -31.9% | 79 |
| 53 | VDY Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index · Vanguard | +123.2% | +155.2% | -32.0% | 78 |
| 54 | GGPY Guardian Directed Premium Yield · Guardian | +24.4% | +56.9% | -32.5% | 68 |
| 55 | PID Purpose International Dividend · Purpose | +87.8% | +120.9% | -33.0% | 76 |
| 56 | VIDY Vanguard FTSE Developed ex North America High Dividend Yield Index · Vanguard | +95.8% | +131.0% | -35.1% | 74 |
| 57 | HGR Harvest REIT Leaders Income · Harvest | +17.6% | +53.5% | -35.9% | 55 |
| 58 | HAL Global X Active Canadian Dividend · Global X | +103.0% | +140.7% | -37.6% | 67 |
| 59 | CGR iShares Global Real Estate Index · iShares | +41.9% | +80.0% | -38.1% | 68 |
| 60 | ZRE BMO Equal Weight REITs Index · BMO | +34.0% | +72.4% | -38.4% | 74 |
| 61 | GGEP Guardian Directed Equity Path · Guardian | +19.2% | +57.9% | -38.7% | 65 |
| 62 | XDV iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index · iShares | +115.7% | +154.4% | -38.7% | 78 |
| 63 | PAYF Purpose Enhanced Premium Yield · Purpose | +36.0% | +75.2% | -39.2% | 77 |
| 64 | BKCL Global X Enhanced Equal Weight Canadian Banks Covered Call · Global X 1.25x leverage | +140.9% | +180.2% | -39.3% | 81 |
| 65 | ZWU BMO Covered Call Utilities · BMO | +43.5% | +83.7% | -40.2% | 80 |
| 66 | LIFE Evolve Global Healthcare Enhanced Yield · Evolve | +36.3% | +76.9% | -40.6% | 76 |
| 67 | RBN.UN Blue Ribbon Income · Brompton | +52.4% | +95.0% | -42.6% | 69 |
| 68 | HGY Global X Gold Yield · Global X | +69.0% | +111.8% | -42.8% | 74 |
| 69 | BLOV Brompton North American Low Volatility Dividend · Brompton | +54.4% | +99.0% | -44.5% | 75 |
| 70 | ZWB BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks · BMO | +133.5% | +179.2% | -45.7% | 82 |
| 71 | TGED TD Active Global Enhanced Dividend · TD | +72.5% | +118.6% | -46.1% | 72 |
| 72 | ZWG BMO Global High Dividend Covered Call · BMO | +60.4% | +107.1% | -46.7% | 78 |
| 73 | ZPAY BMO Premium Yield · BMO | +41.9% | +94.6% | -52.6% | 81 |
| 74 | USCL Global X Enhanced S&P 500 Covered Call · Global X 1.25x leverage | +84.2% | +139.8% | -55.6% | 80 |
| 75 | NRGI Ninepoint Energy Income · Ninepoint | +43.3% | +100.1% | -56.8% | 65 |
| 76 | CGRE CI Global REIT Private Pool · CI | +38.6% | +95.7% | -57.1% | 68 |
| 77 | ZDV BMO Canadian Dividend · BMO | +104.9% | +163.4% | -58.5% | 81 |
| 78 | VGG Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index · Vanguard | +69.8% | +131.9% | -62.1% | 76 |
| 79 | HMAX Hamilton Canadian Financials YIELD MAXIMIZER™ · Hamilton | +102.3% | +165.3% | -63.1% | 87 |
| 80 | ZWHC BMO Covered Call Health Care · BMO | +41.0% | +106.1% | -65.1% | 69 |
| 81 | HUBL Harvest US Bank Leaders Income · Harvest | +86.7% | +152.4% | -65.7% | 74 |
| 82 | CNCL Global X Enhanced S&P/TSX 60 Covered Call · Global X 1.25x leverage | +83.0% | +150.3% | -67.2% | 69 |
| 83 | ZWH BMO US High Dividend Covered Call · BMO | +50.7% | +119.6% | -68.8% | 78 |
| 84 | TUED TD Active U.S. Enhanced Dividend · TD | +61.7% | +131.7% | -70.0% | 68 |
| 85 | BASE Evolve Global Materials & Mining Enhanced Yield Index · Evolve | +52.3% | +122.4% | -70.2% | 74 |
| 86 | USCC Global X S&P 500 Covered Call · Global X | +68.2% | +139.8% | -71.6% | 82 |
| 87 | BKCC Global X Equal Weight Canadian Bank Covered Call · Global X | +107.9% | +180.2% | -72.4% | 84 |
| 88 | ZWC BMO Canadian High Dividend Covered Call · BMO | +73.1% | +145.8% | -72.7% | 80 |
| 89 | ZPW BMO US Put Write · BMO | +40.6% | +113.6% | -73.0% | 78 |
| 90 | VGH Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index (CAD-hedged) · Vanguard | +56.6% | +131.9% | -75.3% | 76 |
| 91 | ZWA BMO Covered Call Dow Jones Industrial Average Hedged to CAD · BMO | +41.3% | +118.2% | -76.8% | 73 |
| 92 | HIG Brompton Global Healthcare Income & Growth · Brompton | +31.4% | +109.0% | -77.6% | 62 |
| 93 | ESPX Evolve S&P 500® Enhanced Yield · Evolve | +61.5% | +140.7% | -79.2% | 80 |
| 94 | ETSX Evolve S&P/TSX 60 Enhanced Yield · Evolve | +81.0% | +163.3% | -82.3% | 82 |
| 95 | PYF Purpose Premium Yield · Purpose | +20.2% | +102.5% | -82.3% | 71 |
| 96 | CNCC Global X S&P/TSX 60 Covered Call · Global X | +67.0% | +150.3% | -83.2% | 76 |
| 97 | PDF Purpose Core Dividend · Purpose | +81.0% | +165.3% | -84.2% | 77 |
| 98 | HAZ Global X Active Global Dividend · Global X | +58.4% | +143.8% | -85.3% | 65 |
| 99 | TRVI Harvest Travel & Leisure Income · Harvest | +52.9% | +140.3% | -87.4% | 69 |
| 100 | BFIN Brompton North American Financials Dividend · Brompton | +90.1% | +178.6% | -88.5% | 78 |
| 101 | ZWT BMO Covered Call Technology · BMO | +108.7% | +203.3% | -94.6% | 74 |
| 102 | ZDY BMO US Dividend · BMO | +75.3% | +174.8% | -99.5% | 72 |
| 103 | GDV Global Dividend Growth Split Corp. Class A Shares · Brompton 2x leverage | +110.8% | +247.7% | -136.9% | 79 |
| 104 | BGIE Brompton Global Infrastructure · Brompton | +70.0% | +207.3% | -137.3% | 80 |
| 105 | GLCC Global X Gold Producer Equity Covered Call · Global X | +205.3% | +344.5% | -139.3% | 75 |
| 106 | QQCL Global X Enhanced Nasdaq-100 Covered Call · Global X 1.25x leverage | +90.5% | +230.0% | -139.5% | 84 |
| 107 | PDIV Purpose Enhanced Dividend · Purpose | +51.3% | +202.9% | -151.6% | 82 |
| 108 | QQCC Global X Nasdaq-100 Covered Call · Global X | +73.5% | +230.0% | -156.5% | 85 |
| 109 | QQQY Evolve NASDAQ Technology Enhanced Yield Index · Evolve | +91.7% | +250.7% | -159.0% | 84 |
| 110 | BDIV Brompton Global Dividend Growth · Brompton | +61.7% | +247.3% | -185.6% | 76 |
| 111 | QMAX Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER™ · Hamilton | +90.5% | +279.9% | -189.4% | 80 |
| 112 | TLF Brompton Tech Leaders Income · Brompton | +74.4% | +354.1% | -279.6% | 76 |
How to read this
- Returns are totals in Canadian dollars, with distributions and dividends reinvested, over the same days for the fund and what it's measured against. A fund hedged to the Canadian dollar is measured in the benchmark's or market's own currency.
- Benchmark or market: a covered call fund is compared with the same stocks without options, a fund with no options with the broad market it picks from. Neither is the index a fund tracks: an index fund trails its own index by about its fee, by design, so that would only rank fees. Click a ticker under a return, or see every benchmark and market yardstick, for the full list and the funds compared with each.
- Leverage adds to gains when markets rise and to losses when they fall, so a leveraged fund beating an unleveraged benchmark says more about the market than the options.
- Each fund's own page has the full comparison over more periods.
This is information, not a recommendation to buy or sell any fund. How we compare.