APLY vs. IVVW

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

APLY (YieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF) and IVVW (iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF) are both Derivative Income funds. APLY is actively managed, while IVVW is passively managed. Over the past year, APLY returned 30.59% vs 19.78% for IVVW. Their 0.45 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. APLY charges 1.04%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IVVW.

Performance

APLY vs. IVVW - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in YieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF (APLY) and iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF (IVVW). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, APLY achieves a 5.98% return, which is significantly lower than IVVW's 8.19% return.

APLY

• 1D: -1.03%
• 1M: -2.06%
• 6M: 7.46%
• YTD: 5.98%
• 1Y: 30.59%
• 3Y*: 10.36%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 12.33%

IVVW

• 1D: 1.03%
• 1M: 2.36%
• 6M: 6.69%
• YTD: 8.19%
• 1Y: 19.78%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 13.86%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
APLY YieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF	$2.70M	$1.76M	$1.65M
IVVW iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF	$2.08M	$2.12M	$2.68M

APLY vs. IVVW - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
APLY YieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF	5.98%	4.69%	28.63%
IVVW iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF	8.19%	11.71%	12.76%

Correlation

The correlation between APLY and IVVW is 0.38, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.38
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 15, 2024	0.45

Return for Risk

APLY vs. IVVW — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

APLY

APLY Risk / Return Rank: 60
APLY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 58
APLY Sortino Ratio Rank: 53
APLY Omega Ratio Rank: 66
APLY Calmar Ratio Rank: 73
APLY Martin Ratio Rank: 52

IVVW

IVVW Risk / Return Rank: 91
IVVW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 91
IVVW Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
IVVW Omega Ratio Rank: 93
IVVW Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
IVVW Martin Ratio Rank: 93

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

APLY vs. IVVW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for YieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF (APLY) and iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF (IVVW). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	APLY	IVVW	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.42	2.32	-0.90
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.91	3.20	-1.29
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.29	1.49	-0.20
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.61	3.42	-0.80
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	6.22	17.74	-11.52

APLY vs. IVVW - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current APLY Sharpe Ratio is 1.42, which is lower than the IVVW Sharpe Ratio of 2.32. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of APLY and IVVW, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

APLY vs. IVVW - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum APLY drawdown since its inception was -30.41%, which is greater than IVVW's maximum drawdown of -16.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for APLY and IVVW.

Drawdown Indicators

	APLY	IVVW	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-30.41%	-16.79%	-13.62%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.76%	-5.81%	-5.95%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-30.41%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-9.63%	0.00%	-9.63%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.75%	-1.68%	-5.07%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.93%	1.12%	+3.81%

Volatility

APLY vs. IVVW - Volatility Comparison

YieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF (APLY) has a higher volatility of 9.62% compared to iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF (IVVW) at 3.05%. This indicates that APLY's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IVVW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	APLY	IVVW	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.62%	3.05%	+6.57%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.88%	7.34%	+10.54%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	21.61%	8.58%	+13.03%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.73%	12.57%	+9.16%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.73%	12.57%	+9.16%

APLY vs. IVVW - Expense Ratio Comparison

APLY has a 1.04% expense ratio, which is higher than IVVW's 0.25% expense ratio.

Dividends

APLY vs. IVVW - Dividend Comparison

APLY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 36.97%, more than IVVW's 18.82% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
APLY YieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF	36.97%	36.38%	24.95%	14.36%
IVVW iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF	18.82%	18.55%	13.72%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both APLY and IVVW in my portfolio?

APLY and IVVW have a correlation of 0.38, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, APLY or IVVW?

APLY has higher volatility (9.62%) compared to IVVW (3.05%). In terms of maximum drawdown, APLY dropped -30.41% vs IVVW's -16.79%.

Which ETF is better, APLY or IVVW?

On 1-year performance, APLY leads with 30.59% vs 19.78% for IVVW. On fees, IVVW is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, IVVW has been the lower-risk option at 3.05%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, APLY or IVVW?

Over the 1-year period, APLY has performed better with a 30.59% return vs 19.78%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, APLY or IVVW?

IVVW is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 1.04% for APLY.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, APLY or IVVW?

APLY has the higher dividend yield at 36.97%, compared with 18.82% for IVVW.

What is the main difference between APLY and IVVW?

They also come from different issuers: YieldMax and iShares. Their fees differ too: 1.04% for APLY and 0.25% for IVVW.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

IVVW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.32 vs 1.42), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.