A side-by-side comparison of Hamilton Enhanced Canadian Bank ETF (HCAL) and Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF (HYLD) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
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1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | HCAL | HYLD |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +38.33%✓ | +8.02% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.33%✓ | -0.93% |
| 1-Week Change | +1.24%✓ | -0.81% |
| 1-Month Change | +9.48%✓ | +0.95% |
| Current Price | $50.71 | $15.90 |
| AUM | $1.02B | $1.14B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0% | 0% |
| Dividend Yield | 3.11% | 11.41%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Inception Date | 2020-10-14 | 2022-02-04 |
| Holdings Count | 1 | 9 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Alternative Equity Focused | Alternative Equity Focused |
| Beta | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $51.12 | $16.15 |
| 52-Week Low | $26.31 | $11.92 |
| 50-Day MA | $45.89 | $15.83 |
| 200-Day MA | $38.49 | $14.88 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | HCAL | HYLD |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +38.33%✓ | +8.02% |
| 1 Year | +87.60%✓ | +33.70% |
| 3 Year | +43.02%✓ | +22.71% |
| 5 Year | +22.47% | — |
| 10 Year | — | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 17.00% | 17.70% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.65 | 1.30 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | HEB | Hamilton Canadian Bank Equal-Weight Index ETF | 123.83% |
| 1 | SMAX | Hamilton U.S. Equity YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF | 59.74% |
| 2 | QMAX | Hamilton Technology Yield Maximizer ETF | 29.90% |
| 3 | FMAX | Hamilton U.S. Financials YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF | 7.24% |
| 4 | SDAY | Hamilton EnhancedU.S. Equity DayMAX™ ETF | 6.85% |
| 5 | LMAX | Hamilton Healthcare YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF | 6.07% |
| 6 | QDAY | Hamilton EnhancedTechnology DayMAX™ ETF | 5.20% |
| 7 | EMAX | Hamilton Energy YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF | 2.30% |
| 8 | AMAX | Hamilton Gold Producer YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF | 2.25% |
| 9 | RMAX | Hamilton REITs YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF | 1.86% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | HCAL | HYLD |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% | 4.46% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 11.13% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% | 8.12% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 3.20% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 4.12% |
| Financial Services | 100.00% | 11.83% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 9.10% |
| Industrials | 0.00% | 5.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 3.60% |
| Technology | 0.00% | 37.15% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 2.29% |
About HCAL
HCAL is designed to track 1.25x the returns of the Solactive Equal Weight Canada Banks Index, investing in Canadian banks — using modest 25% cash leverage. HCAL does not use derivatives.
About HYLD
The fund seeks to provide attractive monthly income and long-term capital appreciation from a diversified, multi-sector portfolio of primarily covered call ETFs, primarily focused on the U.S.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both HCAL and HYLD are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, HYLD scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HCAL and HYLD?
HCAL (Hamilton Enhanced Canadian Bank ETF) and HYLD (Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.02B vs $1.14B), dividend yield (3.11% vs 11.41%), and year-to-date performance (+38.33% vs +8.02%).
Is HCAL better than HYLD?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, HCAL has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy HCAL and HYLD on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both HCAL and HYLD should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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