A side-by-side comparison of BMO Premium Yield ETF (ZPAY) and Purpose Enhanced Premium Yield Fund (PAYF) 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 | ZPAY | PAYF |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +6.73%✓ | -1.27% |
| 1-Day Change | +0.03%✓ | -0.37% |
| 1-Week Change | +0.09%✓ | -1.48% |
| 1-Month Change | +2.78%✓ | -2.05% |
| Current Price | $34.40 | $18.62 |
| AUM | $458M✓ | $48M |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.65% | 0%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 7.18% | 8.66%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | — | Monthly |
| Inception Date | 2020-01-15 | 2019-05-17 |
| Holdings Count | 10 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★ | — |
| Category | Miscellaneous - Income and Real Property | Miscellaneous - Income and Real Property |
| Beta | 0.19 | 0.23 |
| 52-Week High | $34.55 | $19.06 |
| 52-Week Low | $29.47 | $16.78 |
| 50-Day MA | $33.69 | $18.96 |
| 200-Day MA | $32.65 | $18.61 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | ZPAY | PAYF |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +6.73%✓ | -1.27% |
| 1 Year | +14.10%✓ | +6.84% |
| 3 Year | +13.01%✓ | +11.03% |
| 5 Year | +9.25%✓ | +8.30% |
| 10 Year | — | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 5.72% | 5.45% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.13 | 1.28 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 5.26% |
| 2 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 4.56% |
| 3 | V | Visa Inc. Class A | 2.80% |
| 4 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 2.70% |
| 5 | LLY | Eli Lilly and Company | 2.70% |
| 6 | COST | Costco Wholesale Corp | 2.49% |
| 7 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 1.98% |
| 8 | WMT | Walmart Inc. | 1.91% |
| 9 | TJX | The TJX Companies Inc | 1.91% |
| 10 | ADP | Automatic Data Processing Inc | 1.87% |
| 1 | MNY | Purpose Cash Management Fund ETF Units | 71.05% |
| 2 | EEM | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 1.87% |
| 3 | COIN | Coinbase Global Inc | 1.84% |
| 4 | ASHR | Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF | 1.84% |
| 5 | BABA | Alibaba Group Holding Ltd | 1.80% |
| 6 | CVS | CVS Health Corp | 1.79% |
| 7 | LIN | Linde plc Ordinary Shares | 1.74% |
| 8 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 1.70% |
| 9 | NEE | Nextera Energy Inc | 1.68% |
| 10 | HD | The Home Depot Inc | 1.64% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | ZPAY | PAYF |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 3.73% | 11.59% |
| Communication Services | 10.96% | 13.98% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 4.43% | 14.80% |
| Consumer Defensive | 15.62% | 6.07% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.78% |
| Financial Services | 12.06% | 9.67% |
| Healthcare | 14.01% | 10.85% |
| Industrials | 2.47% | 1.50% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 2.54% |
| Technology | 36.72% | 16.40% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 11.83% |
About ZPAY
BMO Premium Yield ETF seeks to provide exposure to the performance of a portfolio of U.S. large capitalization companies, primarily by investing in U.S. equity securities and derivative instruments to provide long term capital appreciation, generate income and mitigate downside risk. The Hedged Units of BMO Premium Yield ETF will also invest in or use derivative instruments to seek to hedge U.S. currency exposure.
About PAYF
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Which ETF is Right for You?
Both ZPAY and PAYF 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, ZPAY 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 ZPAY and PAYF?
ZPAY (BMO Premium Yield ETF) and PAYF (Purpose Enhanced Premium Yield Fund) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($458M vs $48M), dividend yield (7.18% vs 8.66%), and year-to-date performance (+6.73% vs -1.27%).
Is ZPAY better than PAYF?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, ZPAY has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy ZPAY and PAYF on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both ZPAY and PAYF should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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