A side-by-side comparison of Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD) and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China (EMXC) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | QYLD | EMXC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +2.50%✓ | -11.83% |
| 1-Day Change | +1.18%✓ | -0.03% |
| 1-Week Change | -2.55%✓ | -5.03% |
| 1-Month Change | -3.75%✓ | -11.94% |
| Current Price | $17.98 | $89.72 |
| AUM | $8.16B | $25.51B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.59% | 0.25%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 5.50%✓ | 2.00% |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | — |
| Inception Date | 2013-12-11 | 2017-07-18 |
| Holdings Count | 100 | 540 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Unclassified | Unclassified |
| Beta | 0.45 | 1.20 |
| 52-Week High | $18.57 | $107.12 |
| 52-Week Low | $15.10 | $66.95 |
| 50-Day MA | $18.39 | $97.42 |
| 200-Day MA | $17.96 | $91.98 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | QYLD | EMXC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +2.50%✓ | -11.83% |
| 1 Year | +14.82% | +26.00%✓ |
| 3 Year | +15.05% | +24.93%✓ |
| 5 Year | +7.70% | +10.44%✓ |
| 10 Year | +9.61%✓ | +0.00% |
| 1Y Volatility | 8.82% | 30.18% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.38 | 0.98 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 8.48% |
| 2 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 7.95% |
| 3 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 6.40% |
| 4 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 4.32% |
| 5 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 4.50% |
| 6 | TSLA | Tesla Inc | 3.60% |
| 7 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.44% |
| 8 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 3.07% |
| 9 | WMT | Walmart Inc. | 2.97% |
| 10 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 2.80% |
| 1 | 2330 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | 19.40% |
| 2 | 005930 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 8.37% |
| 3 | 000660 | SK Hynix Inc | 6.62% |
| 4 | 2454 | MediaTek Inc | 1.84% |
| 5 | 005935 | Samsung Electronics Co Pref | 1.18% |
| 6 | 2317 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd | 1.02% |
| 7 | HDFCBANK | HDFC Bank Limited | 1.00% |
| 8 | RELIANCE | Reliance Industries Limited | 0.88% |
| 9 | ICICIBANK | ICICI Bank Limited | 0.92% |
| 10 | 2308 | Delta Electronics Inc | 0.85% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | QYLD | EMXC |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 1.11% | 5.39% |
| Communication Services | 11.44% | 3.15% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 10.97% | 4.08% |
| Consumer Defensive | 7.03% | 2.40% |
| Energy | 0.51% | 3.58% |
| Financial Services | 0.22% | 21.23% |
| Healthcare | 5.02% | 2.04% |
| Industrials | 5.63% | 6.21% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.85% |
| Technology | 55.03% | 50.82% |
| Utilities | 1.13% | 1.85% |
About QYLD
The fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in the securities of the underlying index. The CBOE NASDAQ-100® BuyWrite Index is a benchmark index that measures the performance of a theoretical portfolio that holds a portfolio of the stocks included in the NASDAQ-100® Index, and writes (or sells) a succession of one-month at-the-money NASDAQ-100® Index covered call options. It is non-diversified.
About EMXC
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its index. The index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that captures large- and mid-capitalization stocks across 23 of the 24 Emerging Markets countries, excluding China. The fund is non-diversified.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both QYLD and EMXC 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, QYLD 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 QYLD and EMXC?
QYLD (Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF) and EMXC (iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($8.16B vs $25.51B), dividend yield (5.50% vs 2.00%), and year-to-date performance (+2.50% vs -11.83%).
Is QYLD better than EMXC?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, QYLD has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy QYLD and EMXC on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both QYLD and EMXC should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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