VUS vs. JEPQ

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

VUS (Virtus U.S. Dividend ETF) and JEPQ (JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VUS is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Virtus, while JEPQ is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the Nasdaq-100 Index. VUS is actively managed, while JEPQ is passively managed. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VUS charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for JEPQ.

Performance

VUS vs. JEPQ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Virtus U.S. Dividend ETF (VUS) and JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VUS achieves a 17.75% return, which is significantly higher than JEPQ's 7.85% return.

VUS

• 1D: -1.62%
• 1M: 0.06%
• YTD: 17.75%
• 6M: 16.89%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

JEPQ

• 1D: -2.48%
• 1M: 0.34%
• YTD: 7.85%
• 6M: 7.02%
• 1Y: 25.10%
• 3Y*: 19.79%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

VUS vs. JEPQ - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
VUS Virtus U.S. Dividend ETF	17.75%	0.88%
JEPQ JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF	7.85%	0.36%

Correlation

The correlation between VUS and JEPQ is 0.89, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 3, 2025	0.89

VUS vs. JEPQ - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VUS	JEPQ
Technology	37.1%	58.9%
Real Estate	11.2%	0.2%
Industrials	10.9%	2.8%
Financial Services	8.4%	0.3%
Healthcare	7.9%	3.9%
Energy	6.4%	0.3%
Communication Services	5.9%	13.9%
Consumer Cyclical	4.2%	11.8%
Basic Materials	3.0%	0.9%
Consumer Defensive	2.4%	6.0%
Utilities	1.3%	1.1%

Return for Risk

VUS vs. JEPQ — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VUS

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

JEPQ

JEPQ Risk / Return Rank: 63
JEPQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 60
JEPQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 55
JEPQ Omega Ratio Rank: 66
JEPQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 60
JEPQ Martin Ratio Rank: 74

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VUS vs. JEPQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus U.S. Dividend ETF (VUS) and JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ). 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.

	VUS	JEPQ	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	—	1.93	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	—	2.57	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	—	1.38	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	—	2.86	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	—	13.55	—

Drawdowns

VUS vs. JEPQ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VUS drawdown since its inception was -9.45%, smaller than the maximum JEPQ drawdown of -20.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUS and JEPQ.

Drawdown Indicators

	VUS	JEPQ	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-9.45%	-20.07%	+10.62%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-8.82%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-20.07%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.39%	-2.48%	+0.09%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.50%	-3.40%	+1.90%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	1.86%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	VUS	JEPQ	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	6.27%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	10.58%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.16%	13.08%	+2.08%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.16%	16.79%	-1.63%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.16%	16.79%	-1.63%

VUS vs. JEPQ - Expense Ratio Comparison

VUS has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than JEPQ's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

VUS vs. JEPQ - Dividend Comparison

VUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.31%, less than JEPQ's 10.22% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
JEPQ JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF	10.22%	10.53%	9.65%	10.03%	9.44%
VUS Virtus U.S. Dividend ETF	1.31%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VUS and JEPQ in my portfolio?

VUS and JEPQ have a correlation of 0.89, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VUS or JEPQ?

On fees, VUS is cheaper at 0.25% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VUS or JEPQ?

VUS is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for JEPQ.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, VUS or JEPQ?

JEPQ has the higher dividend yield at 10.22%, compared with 1.31% for VUS.

What is the main difference between VUS and JEPQ?

VUS is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while JEPQ is Nasdaq-100. They also come from different issuers: Virtus and JPMorgan. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for VUS and 0.35% for JEPQ.