# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed JEPI (Covered-Call Income)

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-jepi
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

JEPI (JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 7 periods from 1 month to 5 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform JEPI in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 2 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## Key findings

- How hard it was to top JEPI: Outperforming the covered-call income benchmark was not unusual among eligible investments. Of 1,559 ETFs, 502 (32%) outperformed in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and both long-term periods; 197 were all-weather, topping JEPI in all but one short-term period and every long-term period. Among 1,847 eligible stocks, 433 (23%) met the consistency rule, and 257 were all-weather.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
  - Popular alternatives: Dividend-focused HDV and SCHD each outperformed in all 5 short-term periods and both long-term periods. DGRO and covered-call fund QYLD also cleared the bar, with 4 of 5 short-term periods and both long-term periods. QQQ and SPY qualified with 3 of 5 short-term periods and both long-term periods, while JEPQ fell short with 4 of 5 short-term periods but only 1 of 2 long-term periods. No same-index funds were excluded.
  - Top ETFs: Energy and commodities led the displayed ETF group, with 6 Energy and 3 Commodities funds among the top ETFs. BNO, XLE, USO, and FENY each outperformed in all 5 short-term periods and both long-term periods.
  - Top stocks: 433 stocks met the consistency rule. The displayed leaders include energy companies PBR-A, MPC, PBR, and VLO, as well as industrials stock TRMD. These stocks outperformed in all 5 short-term periods and both long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: The leading ETFs and stocks had much larger price swings than JEPI over 5 years. The top ETFs' median volatility was 28.5%, and the top stocks' was 37.7%, compared with 11.0% for JEPI. Still, 12 of 15 top ETFs and all 10 top stocks had higher Sharpe ratios than JEPI, suggesting that most delivered more return per unit of risk over that period.

## How popular alternatives compare

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| JEPI: JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (benchmark) |  |  | +1.9% | +3.7% | +3.4% | +6.2% | +8.7% | +38.1% | +43.3% | 11.0% | 0.71 |
| HDV: iShares Core High Dividend ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +5.7% | +7.5% | +14.6% | +25.9% | +26.8% | +71.8% | +83.3% | 13.0% | 1.00 |
| [SCHD](https://easycompare.io/research/schd): Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +3.7% | +6.8% | +13.6% | +28.2% | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | 14.3% | 0.72 |
| [XLV](https://easycompare.io/research/xlv): State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +6.4% | +13.4% | +23.0% | +17.1% | +26.3% | +47.6% | +49.3% | 15.3% | 0.60 |
| [DGRO](https://easycompare.io/research/dgro): iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +2.8% | +3.9% | +9.4% | +15.1% | +18.1% | +74.2% | +68.0% | 13.7% | 0.83 |
| QYLD: Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | −0.4% | +6.7% | +9.7% | +14.2% | +19.4% | +59.2% | +49.8% | 15.0% | 0.62 |
| [QQQ](https://easycompare.io/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/2 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | 23.0% | 0.71 |
| [SPY](https://easycompare.io/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/2 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | 17.1% | 0.79 |
| [VTI](https://easycompare.io/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/2 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [VYM](https://easycompare.io/research/vym): Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/2 long | +1.1% | +1.7% | +5.1% | +13.3% | +16.9% | +72.8% | +71.1% | 13.8% | 0.85 |
| DVY: iShares Select Dividend ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/2 long | +1.5% | 0.0% | +5.7% | +14.5% | +16.9% | +69.9% | +58.4% | 15.0% | 0.69 |
| [XLF](https://easycompare.io/research/xlf): State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 2/2 long | −0.3% | −0.2% | +6.6% | +2.7% | +7.2% | +81.3% | +50.9% | 18.3% | 0.54 |
| SDY: State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | Fell short | 4/5 short, 1/2 long | +4.2% | +2.0% | +6.0% | +13.6% | +14.3% | +51.0% | +44.0% | 14.0% | 0.59 |
| NOBL: ProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | Fell short | 4/5 short, 1/2 long | +4.1% | +2.2% | +6.6% | +11.8% | +14.1% | +43.3% | +37.3% | 14.5% | 0.51 |
| [JEPQ](https://easycompare.io/research/jepq): JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF | Fell short | 4/5 short, 1/2 long | −1.7% | +4.8% | +7.8% | +11.9% | +15.1% | +77.8% | — | — | — |
| [IWM](https://easycompare.io/research/iwm): iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 1/2 long | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | 22.4% | 0.34 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed JEPI

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Expense | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| JEPI: JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (benchmark) |  | +1.9% | +3.7% | +3.4% | +6.2% | +8.7% | +38.1% | +43.3% | 11.0% | 0.71 |  |  |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | 37.1% | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| [XLE](https://easycompare.io/research/xle): State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +8.8% | +18.0% | +25.1% | +51.9% | +60.9% | +65.6% | +177% | 25.5% | 0.93 | 0.08% | $44B |
| USO: United States Oil Fund, LP | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +8.4% | +28.0% | +32.4% | +133% | +137% | +99.0% | +176% | 37.7% | 0.73 | 0.86% | $1.9B |
| FENY: Fidelity MSCI Energy Index ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +8.1% | +16.5% | +22.6% | +50.0% | +58.6% | +63.9% | +171% | 25.9% | 0.90 | 0.08% | $2.1B |
| VDE: Vanguard Energy ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +8.1% | +16.4% | +22.5% | +49.8% | +58.4% | +63.8% | +171% | 25.8% | 0.90 | 0.09% | $13B |
| RSPG: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Energy ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +6.0% | +13.7% | +20.5% | +47.9% | +58.3% | +62.4% | +165% | 27.4% | 0.85 | 0.40% | $663M |
| IEO: iShares U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +11.0% | +24.0% | +36.4% | +67.4% | +73.9% | +61.3% | +165% | 29.9% | 0.80 | 0.37% | $915M |
| IYE: iShares U.S. Energy ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +8.5% | +16.8% | +23.6% | +49.5% | +58.3% | +63.5% | +161% | 25.2% | 0.89 | 0.37% | $1.8B |
| IXC: iShares Global Energy ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +8.7% | +16.8% | +20.3% | +48.2% | +58.8% | +69.1% | +156% | 23.2% | 0.93 | 0.37% | $3.3B |
| DBE: Invesco DB Energy Fund | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +8.4% | +28.7% | +39.3% | +126% | +126% | +91.6% | +144% | 30.6% | 0.74 | 0.79% | $132M |
| PXE: Invesco Energy Exploration & Production ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +10.6% | +21.3% | +28.8% | +58.9% | +63.2% | +44.8% | +140% | 32.8% | 0.70 | 0.67% | $159M |
| IGE: iShares North American Natural Resources ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +3.8% | +13.6% | +10.1% | +30.8% | +39.5% | +70.4% | +131% | 21.9% | 0.88 | 0.37% | $831M |
| FTXN: First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +8.2% | +16.1% | +23.8% | +50.2% | +59.6% | +49.7% | +128% | 29.0% | 0.72 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| OILK: ProShares - K-1 Free Crude Oil ETF | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +11.1% | +25.4% | +31.0% | +92.5% | +91.9% | +59.8% | +119% | 30.4% | 0.67 | 0.70% | $245M |
| FXN: First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +6.9% | +14.4% | +19.2% | +45.8% | +59.5% | +45.5% | +113% | 28.5% | 0.68 | 0.63% | $387M |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed JEPI

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Market cap |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| JEPI: JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (benchmark) |  | +1.9% | +3.7% | +3.4% | +6.2% | +8.7% | +38.1% | +43.3% | 11.0% | 0.71 |  |
| TRMD: TORM plc | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +2.4% | +40.2% | +36.0% | +117% | +110% | +107% | +776% | 45.9% | 1.18 | $3.9B |
| [PBR-A](https://easycompare.io/research/pbr-a): Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +23.3% | +47.0% | +30.3% | +117% | +130% | +133% | +705% | 37.5% | 1.31 | $157B |
| [MPC](https://easycompare.io/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | 33.4% | 1.41 | $133B |
| [PBR](https://easycompare.io/research/pbr): Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +24.6% | +45.4% | +31.0% | +128% | +140% | +132% | +667% | 37.5% | 1.28 | $166B |
| KNSA: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +6.5% | +32.9% | +95.9% | +98.0% | +113% | +434% | +665% | 53.7% | 1.02 | $6.5B |
| [VLO](https://easycompare.io/research/vlo): Valero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +10.2% | +38.9% | +93.2% | +166% | +176% | +259% | +524% | 36.9% | 1.18 | $125B |
| CORT: Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | 75.9% | 0.81 | $13B |
| PBF: PBF Energy Inc. | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +14.5% | +30.5% | +122% | +196% | +189% | +89.0% | +495% | 59.1% | 0.90 | $9.8B |
| [CAH](https://easycompare.io/research/cah): Cardinal Health, Inc. | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +14.3% | +14.3% | +22.5% | +26.1% | +65.3% | +191% | +479% | 24.7% | 1.55 | $60B |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 2/2 long, all-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | 38.0% | 1.10 | $14B |

## What stands out

Energy and commodities feature prominently among the leading ETFs, while energy companies account for many of the displayed stock leaders. This pattern suggests the outperformance was concentrated in a few areas rather than spread evenly across the market. The consistency rule also shows that qualifying investments kept ahead of JEPI over both long-term periods, not just in recent short-term comparisons.

That record came with a bumpier ride. The top ETFs and stocks had roughly double or more JEPI's volatility, yet most of the displayed ETFs and all the displayed stocks had higher Sharpe ratios. That measure compares returns with the amount of risk taken, but it does not erase the larger swings investors experienced.

## More research

- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SCHD (Dividend Stocks)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-schd)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed GLD (Gold)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-gld)
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## Explore further

- Full page: https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-jepi
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt