XYLD vs. YEAR

Last updated Jul 15, 2026

XYLD (Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF) and YEAR (AB Ultra Short Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XYLD is a Derivative Income fund tracking the Cboe S&P 500 BuyWrite Index, while YEAR is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by AllianceBernstein. XYLD is passively managed, while YEAR is actively managed. Over the past 3 years, XYLD returned 11.42%/yr vs 4.92%/yr for YEAR. At a 0.07 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XYLD charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for YEAR.

Performance

XYLD vs. YEAR - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD) and AB Ultra Short Income ETF (YEAR). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XYLD achieves a 7.16% return, which is significantly higher than YEAR's 1.51% return.

XYLD

• 1D: 0.27%
• 1M: 2.23%
• 6M: 6.22%
• YTD: 7.16%
• 1Y: 17.29%
• 3Y*: 11.42%
• 5Y*: 7.69%
• 10Y*: 8.17%

YEAR

• 1D: 0.08%
• 1M: 0.25%
• 6M: 1.40%
• YTD: 1.51%
• 1Y: 3.68%
• 3Y*: 4.92%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

XYLD vs. YEAR - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
XYLD Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF	7.16%	8.02%	19.49%	11.10%	-0.34%
YEAR AB Ultra Short Income ETF	1.51%	4.69%	5.41%	5.85%	1.07%

Correlation

The correlation between XYLD and YEAR is 0.09, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.09
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.06
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 14, 2022	0.07

Return for Risk

XYLD vs. YEAR — Risk / Return Rank

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

XYLD

XYLD Risk / Return Rank: 90
XYLD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
XYLD Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
XYLD Omega Ratio Rank: 95
XYLD Calmar Ratio Rank: 79
XYLD Martin Ratio Rank: 91

YEAR

YEAR Risk / Return Rank: 98
YEAR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Omega Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
YEAR Martin Ratio Rank: 99

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.

XYLD vs. YEAR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD) and AB Ultra Short Income ETF (YEAR). 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.

	XYLD	YEAR	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.50	4.70	-2.20
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.56	8.48	-4.92
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.57	2.11	-0.54
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.28	16.27	-12.99
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	17.10	71.06	-53.96

XYLD vs. YEAR - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XYLD Sharpe Ratio is 2.50, which is lower than the YEAR Sharpe Ratio of 4.70. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XYLD and YEAR, 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

XYLD vs. YEAR - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XYLD drawdown since its inception was -33.46%, which is greater than YEAR's maximum drawdown of -0.64%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XYLD and YEAR.

Drawdown Indicators

	XYLD	YEAR	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.46%	-0.64%	-32.82%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.29%	-0.23%	-5.06%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-15.53%	-0.43%	-15.10%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-18.66%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.46%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.69%	-0.06%	-3.63%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.01%	0.05%	+0.96%

Volatility

XYLD vs. YEAR - Volatility Comparison

Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD) has a higher volatility of 1.81% compared to AB Ultra Short Income ETF (YEAR) at 0.27%. This indicates that XYLD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than YEAR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XYLD	YEAR	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.81%	0.27%	+1.54%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	5.91%	0.57%	+5.34%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	6.94%	0.79%	+6.15%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	11.28%	1.15%	+10.13%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.15%	1.15%	+13.00%

XYLD vs. YEAR - Expense Ratio Comparison

XYLD has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than YEAR's 0.25% expense ratio.

Dividends

XYLD vs. YEAR - Dividend Comparison

XYLD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.28%, more than YEAR's 4.09% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
XYLD Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF	10.28%	10.51%	11.54%	10.51%	13.43%	9.07%	7.93%	5.76%	7.12%	5.18%	3.23%	4.65%
YEAR AB Ultra Short Income ETF	4.09%	4.33%	5.16%	5.00%	1.19%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XYLD and YEAR in my portfolio?

XYLD and YEAR have a correlation of 0.09, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, XYLD or YEAR?

XYLD has higher volatility (1.81%) compared to YEAR (0.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XYLD dropped -33.46% vs YEAR's -0.64%.

Which ETF is better, XYLD or YEAR?

On 3-year performance, XYLD leads with 11.42% vs 4.92% for YEAR. On fees, YEAR is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, YEAR has been the lower-risk option at 0.27%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, XYLD or YEAR?

Over the 3-year period, XYLD has performed better with a 11.42% return vs 4.92%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XYLD or YEAR?

YEAR is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for XYLD.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, XYLD or YEAR?

XYLD has the higher dividend yield at 10.28%, compared with 4.09% for YEAR.

What is the main difference between XYLD and YEAR?

XYLD is categorized as Derivative Income, while YEAR is Ultrashort Bond. They also come from different issuers: Global X and AllianceBernstein. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for XYLD and 0.25% for YEAR.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

YEAR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.70 vs 2.50), 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.