Pass on this ETF: BMO COVERED CALL UTILITIES ETF

Article Excerpt

BMO COVERED CALL UTILITIES ETF $12.37 (Toronto symbol ZWU) invests in Canadian and U.S. utility, pipeline, and telecommunications companies with what it sees as steady revenue streams; it also sells call options to enhance the yield on the portfolio. The ETF, launched in October 2010, currently holds $1.0 billion of assets, and charges a somewhat high MER of 0.65%. The fund has a very high 8.2% yield. However, its own dividend income does not cover those high distributions to unitholders. To make up the difference, it sells call options on the stocks it holds. However, options trading tends to generate a lot of brokerage commissions that eat away at capital. Selling calls also tends to diminish any capital gains that the ETF’s portfolio might generate. When the stocks the ETF owns go up, holders of its call options will exercise their right to buy those stocks at set prices. Meanwhile, BMO Covered Call Utilities ETF will want to hold on to its losers—stocks it owns that…