Relative Intelligence · Equity Income

How JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on JEPQ alone. It places JEPQ (JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF) against 15 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where JEPQ stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: JEPQ's full trading record, from May 2022 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
On this page12 sections
Key findings
- What you're buying61% of JEPQ sits in technology, against 38% for the S&P 500. At a glance ↓
- Right nowAfter a 20.1% loss from February 2025 to April 2025, JEPQ has bounced 21.4% off the low. Even so, over the past 6 months, JEPQ rose 7.8% against 9.1% for the S&P 500 and 11.2% for the Nasdaq 100. At a glance ↓
- Fund or market?JEPQ rose 4.8% over the past 3 months, in line with the equity income ETF JEPI (JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF), which rose 3.7%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%.
- Long termJEPQ turned $10,000 into $17,800 over the past 3 years, against $18,900 in the S&P 500. On the flip side, over the past 3 years, only GPIQ (Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF) and GPIX (Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF) of its similar funds outpaced JEPQ. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- DiversificationOver 3 years, JEPQ's beta versus the S&P 500 was 0.79: 82% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 47% of its losses in falling ones. Even so, against the S&P 500, JEPQ has a correlation of 0.88 over 3 years, more closely than 83% of ETFs with at least $100 million in assets. Next to an index fund it is more of the same, not a cushion. Market capture ↓
- Better options
- Nearby categories and themes
- CGDV (Capital Group Dividend Value ETF, US dividend equity) and FDL (First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, US dividend equity) earned more than JEPQ with less volatility over the past 3 years. CGDV returned 25.4% a year at 13.7% volatility, against 21.1% a year at 15.6%.
- Whole market
- Few investments have done better on both counts: only 61 of the 3,928 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than JEPQ with less volatility over the past 3 years, among them VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF), IWD (iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF) and DCOR (U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio ETF Class Shares).
How much would $10,000 in JEPQ have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in JEPQ over the past 4 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of JEPQ over the same span and JEPQ's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.
Note: JEPQ began trading on May 4, 2022, so the chart cannot reach back to the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or six other sell-offs. It covers the most recent 4 years of JEPQ's record, starting at the end of September 2022.
- $10,000 invested in JEPQ at the end of September 2022 would have grown to $23,076 by September 2026, more than the $22,487 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Five of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of JEPQ, and XLK finished highest, at $33,902.
From the end of September 2022 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 923 of the 3,774 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of JEPQ; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- XLK$33,902+239% total · +35.7% a year
- QQQM$28,420+184% total · +29.8% a year
- SCHG$26,208+162% total · +27.2% a year
- CGDV$25,482+155% total · +26.3% a year
- RY$25,214+152% total · +26.0% a year
- JEPQ$23,076+131% total · +23.3% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$22,487+125% total · +22.5% a year
- QYLD$19,276+92.8% total · +17.8% a year
- PBP$17,139+71.4% total · +14.4% a year
- XYLD$16,882+68.8% total · +14.0% a year
JEPQ at a glance
This section summarizes the key facts about the fund, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.
Note: JEPQ began trading on May 4, 2022, so every figure here, including its worst decline, covers only the time since then. None of them reflect the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or six other sell-offs.
- JEPQ has not had a losing calendar year since it began trading in 2022; it gained in all three full years, at worst 15.2% in 2025.
- JEPQ's deepest decline since it began trading in 2022 was 20.1%, from February to April 2025. It took four months from the low to climb back to its old high.
- JEPQ is 3.0% below its all-time high.
The fund
- Issuer
- J.P. Morgan
- Began trading
- May 2022
- Expense ratio
- 0.35%per year
- Assets
- $43B
- Category
- Technology
Returns
- Past 1 year
- +15.1%total return
- Past 3 years
- +77.8%+21.1% a year
- Best calendar year
- +36.3%2023
- Worst calendar year
- +15.2%2025
- Losing years
- 0 of 3full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 15.6%typical yearly swing, 3 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 1.31return per unit of risk, 3 years
- Worst decline ever
- −20.1%Feb 2025 to Apr 2025
- From its all-time high
- −3.0%below the peak
JEPQ against the whole market
Where JEPQ ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does JEPQ rank among all ETFs?
This section ranks JEPQ on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every ETF worth at least $100 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how JEPQ stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- JEPQ lands in the broad middle of the market on every measure here. JEPQ's 3-year return ranks in the top 32% of the 1,949 ETFs with at least $100 million in assets with 3 years of history.
Ranked against U.S.-listed ETFs with at least $100M in assets that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller ETFs and leveraged funds are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.
| Measure | JEPQ | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +15.1% | 809 of 2,485 | top 33% |
| 3-year return | +77.8% | 619 of 1,949 | top 32% |
| Volatility, 3 years | 15.6% | 1,126 of 1,949 | bottom 43% |
| Sharpe ratio, 3 years | 1.31 | 847 of 1,949 | top 43% |
What has beaten JEPQ on both return and risk?
Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 3 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). JEPQ sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than JEPQ with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.
- One stock and 60 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than JEPQ over the past 3 years with smaller price swings. That is 2% of the 3,928 screened. Few investments beat it on both counts.
- Among those with at least half JEPQ's swings, WCCB has the best return for its risk: 37.6% a year at 13.8% volatility, 11% less than JEPQ's 15.6%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 2.39 against 1.31 for JEPQ.
- None of JEPQ's popular alternatives made it, but CGDV (US dividend equity) did: 25.4% a year at 13.7% volatility, 12% less than JEPQ's 15.6%.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 3 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to JEPQ; faint dots are 23 more of the 61 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,928 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
Is there a better investment than JEPQ?
Investments that beat JEPQ over the past 3 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, CGDV (US dividend equity) and FDL (US dividend equity) earned more than JEPQ with less volatility over the past 3 years. CGDV returned 25.4% a year at 13.7% volatility, against 21.1% a year at 15.6%.
- Few investments have done better on both counts: only 61 of the 3,928 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than JEPQ with less volatility over the past 3 years, among them VT, IWD and DCOR.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat JEPQ over the past 3 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes, and, for funds, the same exposure at a lower expense ratio. It checks JEPQ's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than JEPQ follows the table.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 3 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than JEPQ's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× JEPQ's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 3 years. Green marks a better figure than JEPQ's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 3 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 3Y returntotal | Corr. with JEPQ?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| +21.1% | 15.6% | 1.31 | −20.1% | +77.8% | 1.00 | 0.35% | |||
| +23.7% | 15.2% | 1.48 | −33.7% | +89.3% | 0.88 | 0.09% | |||
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 3 shownEverything else in Equity Income and the categories next to it (US Dividend Equity, Investment Grade Bonds, US Large-Cap Growth, US Low-Volatility Equity), plus JEPQ's specific themes. 4 of 48 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| Higher return, lower volatility | +25.4% | 13.7% | 1.73 | −21.8% | +97.2% | 0.64 | 0.33% | ||
FDLFirst Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund · US Dividend Equity | Higher return, lower volatility | +22.3% | 13.3% | 1.59 | −41.4% | +82.9% | 0.02 | 0.43% | |
| Similar return, lower volatility | +20.3% | 11.7% | 1.65 | −35.1% | +74.2% | 0.52 | 0.08% | ||
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 102 of 3,867 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
BKGIBNY Mellon Global Infrastructure Income ETF · International | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +22.4% | 13.2% | 1.60 | −14.8% | +83.3% | 0.02 | 0.65% | |
TVALT. Rowe Price Value ETF · Broad Market | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +22.4% | 12.5% | 1.69 | −14.8% | +83.4% | 0.59 | 0.33% | |
PVALPutnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatility | +25.6% | 13.2% | 1.80 | −41.3% | +98.1% | 0.53 | 0.56% | |
BINVBrandes International ETF · International | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +24.5% | 14.5% | 1.59 | −14.9% | +92.8% | — | 0.70% | |
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatility | +24.4% | 10.6% | 2.12 | −32.4% | +92.3% | 0.02 | 0.40% | |
| On the frontierHigher return, similar volatility | +39.7% | 16.9% | 2.08 | −40.0% | +173% | 0.44 | — | ||
WCCBWest Coast Community Bancorp · Banks - Regional | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatility | +37.6% | 13.8% | 2.39 | −70.8% | +161% | 0.10 | — | |
| Similar return, lower volatility | +21.2% | 12.2% | 1.65 | −36.8% | +77.9% | 0.53 | 0.03% | ||
What these numbers mean for JEPQ
- Annual return
- JEPQ returned 21.1% a year over the past 3 years with dividends reinvested, against 23.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $17,800. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
- Volatility
- JEPQ's volatility over the past 3 years was 15.6%, 1.0 times the S&P 500's 15.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, JEPQ's return lands within 15.6% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
- Sharpe ratio
- JEPQ's Sharpe ratio over the past 3 years was 1.31, against 1.48 for the S&P 500, so JEPQ earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
- Worst decline
- JEPQ's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 20.1%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 20.1% fall takes a 25.1% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 3 years, JEPQ's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.88 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They move almost in lockstep, so holding both adds little diversification. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against JEPQ instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a JEPQ holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 61 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than JEPQ with less volatility
Out of 3,928 tested over 3 years. The strongest 31 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 3Y return | Corr. with JEPQ | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BKGIBNY Mellon Global Infrastructure Income ETF · International | Whole market | +22.4% | 13.2% | 1.60 | −14.8% | +83.3% | 0.02 | 0.65% |
| 2 | TVALT. Rowe Price Value ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +22.4% | 12.5% | 1.69 | −14.8% | +83.4% | 0.59 | 0.33% |
| 3 | PVALPutnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +25.6% | 13.2% | 1.80 | −41.3% | +98.1% | 0.53 | 0.56% |
| 4 | BINVBrandes International ETF · International | Whole market | +24.5% | 14.5% | 1.59 | −14.9% | +92.8% | — | 0.70% |
| 5 | LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +24.4% | 10.6% | 2.12 | −32.4% | +92.3% | 0.02 | 0.40% |
| 6 | DIVBiShares Core Dividend ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +27.5% | 13.7% | 1.86 | −36.9% | +107% | 0.44 | 0.05% |
| 7 | Whole market | +22.5% | 14.5% | 1.49 | −34.2% | +83.8% | 0.80 | 0.06% | |
| 8 | WCCBWest Coast Community Bancorp · Banks - Regional | Whole market | +37.6% | 13.8% | 2.39 | −70.8% | +161% | 0.10 | — |
| 9 | FGDFirst Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund · International | Whole market | +25.5% | 13.0% | 1.83 | −44.8% | +97.7% | 0.11 | 0.55% |
| 10 | CLSEConvergence Long/Short Equity ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +29.1% | 13.8% | 1.93 | −16.4% | +115% | 0.80 | 1.52% |
| 11 | EFViShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +24.4% | 14.4% | 1.60 | −43.2% | +92.4% | 0.14 | 0.31% |
| 12 | AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +23.7% | 14.8% | 1.52 | −19.5% | +89.4% | 0.64 | 0.15% |
| 13 | DFICDimensional - International Core Equity 2 ETF · Developed International Equity | Whole market | +22.2% | 14.3% | 1.49 | −24.4% | +82.4% | 0.34 | 0.22% |
| 14 | BBCAJPMorgan BetaBuilders Canada ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +25.5% | 14.6% | 1.64 | −42.8% | +97.6% | 0.41 | 0.19% |
| 15 | GSLCGoldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +22.4% | 14.7% | 1.46 | −33.7% | +83.5% | 0.85 | 0.09% |
| 16 | JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +22.6% | 13.8% | 1.56 | −32.9% | +84.2% | 0.79 | 0.12% |
| 17 | Same or nearby category | +25.4% | 13.7% | 1.73 | −21.8% | +97.2% | 0.64 | 0.33% | |
| 18 | USMCPrincipal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +23.1% | 14.8% | 1.49 | −30.0% | +86.6% | 0.90 | 0.12% |
| 19 | FDLFirst Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund · US Dividend Equity | Same or nearby category | +22.3% | 13.3% | 1.59 | −41.4% | +82.9% | 0.02 | 0.43% |
| 20 | WTVWisdomTree U.S. Value Fund · Broad Market | Whole market | +23.4% | 14.8% | 1.50 | −42.2% | +87.8% | 0.52 | 0.12% |
| 21 | RODMHartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF · International | Whole market | +23.9% | 11.8% | 1.88 | −36.0% | +90.0% | 0.19 | 0.29% |
| 22 | SEIVSEI QiM U.S. Large Cap Value Active ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +28.9% | 14.7% | 1.81 | −18.2% | +114% | 0.65 | 0.15% |
| 23 | APUEActivePassive U.S. Equity ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +23.5% | 14.8% | 1.51 | −18.8% | +88.3% | 0.87 | 0.31% |
| 24 | PWVInvesco Large Cap Value ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +23.1% | 13.0% | 1.68 | −37.6% | +86.4% | 0.34 | 0.55% |
| 25 | ILCViShares Morningstar Value ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +22.3% | 12.3% | 1.71 | −35.5% | +82.9% | 0.59 | 0.04% |
| 26 | SIXAETC 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +22.6% | 11.2% | 1.90 | −18.4% | +84.4% | 0.50 | 0.31% |
| 27 | FYLDCambria Foreign Shareholder Yield ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +25.0% | 14.3% | 1.64 | −44.6% | +95.4% | 0.05 | 0.59% |
| 28 | DGTState Street SPDR Global Dow ETF · International | Whole market | +24.4% | 13.3% | 1.72 | −34.4% | +92.6% | 0.58 | 0.50% |
| 29 | FDRRFidelity Dividend ETF for Rising Rates · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +23.8% | 13.8% | 1.63 | −36.5% | +89.9% | 0.70 | 0.15% |
| 30 | DTHWisdomTree International High Dividend Fund · International | Whole market | +22.4% | 13.6% | 1.56 | −40.8% | +83.2% | 0.04 | 0.58% |
| 31 | IDOGALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF · International | Whole market | +23.0% | 14.4% | 1.53 | −37.3% | +86.2% | 0.05 | 0.50% |
JEPQ against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against JEPQ, compared period by period and year by year.
How do JEPQ's risk and return compare with its alternatives?
This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 3 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at JEPQ, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- Only GPIX was both more rewarding and calmer than JEPQ over the past 3 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 3 years, JEPQ returned 21.1% a year, less than the S&P 500's 23.7%, with higher volatility (15.6% against 15.2%).
Green points earned more than JEPQ with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | +32.1% | 25.2% |
| QQQM Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | +27.3% | 20.3% |
| SCHG Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | +25.8% | 19.4% |
| GPIQ Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF | +25.1% | 17.8% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +23.7% | 15.2% |
| GPIX Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF | +22.0% | 13.5% |
| JEPQ This pageJPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF | +21.1% | 15.6% |
| SPYI Neos S&P 500(R) High Income ETF | +18.3% | 12.5% |
| DIVO Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | +17.8% | 10.8% |
| QYLD Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF | +16.8% | 13.4% |
| PBP Invesco S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF | +15.1% | 10.5% |
| XYLD Global X - S&P 500 Covered Call ETF | +14.6% | 10.1% |
| JEPI JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | +11.4% | 10.0% |
| RYLD Global X - Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF | +10.7% | 12.6% |
| BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | +5.0% | 5.0% |
Has JEPQ consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares JEPQ with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over six periods from one month to three years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than JEPQ helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Five of the 15 popular alternatives, led by XLK, QQQM and QQQ, outperformed JEPQ in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 1 of 1 long-term timeframes.
- XLK outperformed JEPQ in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- GPIX and SPYI earned more for the risk they took than JEPQ (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in their worst decline of the past 10 years.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than JEPQ over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 1 of 1 long-term periods.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 3 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| JEPQ JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (this page) | — | −1.7% | +4.8% | +7.8% | +11.9% | +15.1% | +77.8% | 15.6% | 1.31 | −20.1% | 0.35% | $43B | — |
| XLK QualifiedState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short1/1 longAll-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | 25.2% | 1.24 | −33.6% | 0.08% | $125B | 61% |
| QQQM QualifiedInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | 3/5 short1/1 long | −3.2% | +3.3% | +11.2% | +17.5% | +18.0% | +106% | 20.3% | 1.30 | −35.0% | 0.15% | $110B | 97% |
| QQQ QualifiedInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 3/5 short1/1 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | 20.5% | 1.28 | −35.1% | 0.18% | $492B | 97% |
| GPIQ QualifiedGoldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF | 3/5 short1/1 long | −2.4% | +1.9% | +8.8% | +15.1% | +16.8% | +95.6% | 17.8% | 1.36 | −21.1% | 0.35% | $6.4B | 98% |
| GPIX QualifiedGoldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF | 3/5 short1/1 long | −0.1% | +3.3% | +8.4% | +12.8% | +15.6% | +81.5% | 13.5% | 1.56 | −17.5% | 0.35% | $6.2B | 71% |
| SCHG Broad MarketSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | 1/5 short1/1 long | −1.9% | +4.2% | +9.4% | +9.7% | +10.4% | +99.2% | 19.4% | 1.29 | −34.5% | 0.04% | $63B | 88% |
| QYLD TechnologyGlobal X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF | 5/5 short0/1 long | −0.4% | +6.7% | +9.7% | +14.2% | +19.4% | +59.2% | 13.4% | 1.23 | −24.7% | 0.60% | $8.6B | 98% |
| PBP AlternativesInvesco S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF | 3/5 short0/1 long | +0.5% | +3.8% | +9.4% | +11.0% | +16.3% | +52.6% | 10.5% | 1.41 | −33.3% | 0.29% | $393M | 74% |
| XYLD InternationalGlobal X - S&P 500 Covered Call ETF | 3/5 short0/1 long | +0.2% | +3.8% | +9.2% | +10.8% | +16.0% | +50.5% | 10.1% | 1.41 | −33.4% | 0.60% | $3.4B | 74% |
| SPYI Dividend & IncomeNeos S&P 500(R) High Income ETF | 2/5 short0/1 long | 0.0% | +4.4% | +8.7% | +11.8% | +15.0% | +65.7% | 12.5% | 1.42 | −16.5% | 0.68% | $12B | 74% |
| DIVO Dividend & IncomeAmplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | 1/5 short0/1 long | +1.4% | +5.1% | +6.3% | +11.4% | +14.6% | +63.4% | 10.8% | 1.58 | −30.0% | 0.56% | $8.0B | 45% |
| JEPI Dividend & IncomeJPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | 1/5 short0/1 long | +1.9% | +3.7% | +3.4% | +6.2% | +8.7% | +38.1% | 10.0% | 1.14 | −13.7% | 0.35% | $46B | 48% |
| BND BondsVanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 1/5 short0/1 long | −0.6% | −2.0% | −2.8% | −1.8% | −2.1% | +15.7% | 5.0% | 1.00 | −18.6% | 0.03% | $389B | — |
| RYLD InternationalGlobal X - Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF | 0/5 short0/1 long | −1.8% | −2.1% | +5.3% | +8.7% | +11.4% | +35.6% | 12.6% | 0.87 | −41.5% | 0.60% | $1.3B | 39% |
| QQQI TechnologyNEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF | 0/5 short0/1 long | −2.5% | +3.4% | +8.0% | +12.0% | +13.2% | — | — | — | −20.0% | 0.68% | $15B | 99% |
How did JEPQ do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2023, along with where JEPQ ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with JEPQ and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
Note: JEPQ began trading on May 4, 2022, so the table starts with 2023, its first full calendar year, and cannot show how it fared during the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or six other sell-offs.
- Among its popular alternatives, QQQM came out ahead of JEPQ most often, in all three years both traded.
- JEPQ finished ahead of the S&P 500 in one of its three full calendar years.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, JEPQ finished in the top quarter in one of three years and in the bottom quarter in no. In 2025, it ranked 9 of 15.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of JEPQ; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places JEPQ among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of JEPQ | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEPQ This pageJPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF | — | +15.2% | +24.9% | +36.3% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 1 of 3 | 9 of 15 | 3 of 14 | 4 of 12 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1 of 3 | +17.7% | +24.9% | +26.2% |
| XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2 of 3 | +24.6% | +21.6% | +56.0% |
| QQQM Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | 3 of 3 | +20.8% | +25.7% | +55.0% |
| GPIQ Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF | 1 of 2 | +19.8% | +23.2% | — |
| GPIX Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF | 1 of 2 | +16.2% | +21.8% | — |
| SCHG Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | 3 of 3 | +17.4% | +34.9% | +50.1% |
| QYLD Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF | 0 of 3 | +9.3% | +19.3% | +22.7% |
| PBP Invesco S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF | 0 of 3 | +8.5% | +19.9% | +11.6% |
| XYLD Global X - S&P 500 Covered Call ETF | 0 of 3 | +8.0% | +19.5% | +11.1% |
| SPYI Neos S&P 500(R) High Income ETF | 1 of 3 | +16.7% | +19.1% | +18.1% |
| DIVO Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | 1 of 3 | +17.4% | +16.2% | +7.0% |
| JEPI JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | 0 of 3 | +8.1% | +12.6% | +9.8% |
| BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 0 of 3 | +7.1% | +1.4% | +5.7% |
| RYLD Global X - Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF | 0 of 3 | +5.7% | +10.2% | +0.3% |
| QQQI NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF | 1 of 1 | +18.6% | — | — |
Risk and diversification
How JEPQ has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.
What were JEPQ's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents JEPQ's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 2022, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.
Note: JEPQ began trading on May 4, 2022, so this list cannot include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or six other sell-offs. The crash tests on this page show how older funds and the S&P 500 fared through those years.
- In three of JEPQ's five worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- None of these declines kept JEPQ below its old high for long; the longest climb back took six months.
Green means JEPQ fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | JEPQ fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No named crash | −20.1% | −18.8% | Feb 2025 | Apr 2025 | 2 months | Aug 2025 | 4 months |
| 2022 bear market | −16.8% | −16.3% | Aug 2022 | Oct 2022 | 2 months | Apr 2023 | 6 months |
| 2022 bear market | −13.1% | −14.5% | May 2022 | Jun 2022 | 1 month | Aug 2022 | 2 months |
| No named crash | −10.7% | −7.6% | Jul 2024 | Aug 2024 | 1 month | Oct 2024 | 2 months |
| No named crash | −8.8% | −8.9% | Jan 2026 | Mar 2026 | 2 months | Apr 2026 | 1 month |
How did JEPQ do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far JEPQ, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.
Note: JEPQ began trading on May 4, 2022, so its row reads "Not yet trading" for the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or seven other sell-offs. The older alternatives and the S&P 500 show how those crashes played out.
- JEPQ began trading after the 2008 financial crisis, but two of its popular alternatives lived through it. The mildest fall among them was BND's 9.3%, against 55.2% for the S&P 500.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than JEPQ.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEPQ This pageJPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF | — | −2.6% | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 0 of 1 | −3.4% | −24.5% | −33.7% | −19.3% | −6.5% | −12.8% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −55.2% | −47.5% |
| XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0 of 1 | −3.2% | −32.4% | −31.1% | −23.8% | −6.7% | −12.7% | −15.9% | −2.1% | −53.0% | −82.0% |
| QQQM Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | 0 of 1 | −3.1% | −33.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SCHG Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | 0 of 1 | −3.6% | −32.2% | −32.3% | −21.6% | −6.4% | −16.2% | −20.2% | −1.8% | — | — |
| QYLD Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF | 0 of 1 | −2.2% | −23.8% | −24.7% | −19.0% | −6.1% | −11.2% | — | — | — | — |
| PBP Invesco S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF | 0 of 1 | −2.9% | −18.6% | −33.3% | −16.1% | −6.1% | −9.5% | −14.2% | −1.9% | — | — |
| XYLD Global X - S&P 500 Covered Call ETF | 0 of 1 | −2.8% | −18.7% | −33.4% | −18.0% | −6.6% | −11.1% | — | — | — | — |
| SPYI Neos S&P 500(R) High Income ETF | 0 of 1 | −2.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DIVO Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | 0 of 1 | −2.6% | −13.7% | −29.7% | −15.1% | −5.4% | — | — | — | — | — |
| JEPI JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | 0 of 1 | −2.6% | −13.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 1 of 1 | 0.0% | −14.6% | −8.7% | −1.1% | −0.9% | −1.5% | −1.1% | −0.2% | −9.3% | — |
| RYLD Global X - Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF | 0 of 1 | −6.9% | −19.1% | −41.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How closely does JEPQ move with the S&P 500?
Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares JEPQ with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 3 years.
- Over the past 3 years, JEPQ captured 82% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 47% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.79. That is a defensive profile: it gave up some of the market's upside in exchange for smaller losses.
- Only QYLD had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than JEPQ's 1.75, out of 11 popular alternatives with the same record.
Monthly total returns over the past 3 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than JEPQ's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEPQ This pageJPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF | 82% | 47% | 1.75 | 0.79 |
| QYLD Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF | 60% | 22% | 2.76 | 0.46 |
| PBP Invesco S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF | 56% | 33% | 1.71 | 0.38 |
| XYLD Global X - S&P 500 Covered Call ETF | 55% | 33% | 1.64 | 0.37 |
| XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 127% | 81% | 1.56 | 1.51 |
| QQQM Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | 110% | 83% | 1.33 | 1.26 |
| SPYI Neos S&P 500(R) High Income ETF | 76% | 70% | 1.09 | 0.69 |
| SCHG Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | 114% | 116% | 0.98 | 1.22 |
| DIVO Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | 75% | 81% | 0.93 | 0.54 |
| JEPI JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF | 50% | 61% | 0.82 | 0.43 |
| BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 23% | 34% | 0.66 | 0.22 |
| RYLD Global X - Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF | 54% | 85% | 0.64 | 0.56 |
What diversifies JEPQ?
Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with JEPQ's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing JEPQ with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in JEPQ into LVHI would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 18% over the past 3 years and raised its annual return (+21.8% for JEPQ alone, +22.0% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, AVDV and EUFN have moved largely independently of JEPQ over the past 3 years, with correlations of 0.30 or lower, and each still earned a positive 3-year return.
- Among large stocks, CM, BNY and RY have moved largely independently of JEPQ over the past 3 years, with correlations of 0.44 or lower, and each still earned a positive 3-year return.
Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 3 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% JEPQ and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 3Y return | Sharpe | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEPQ JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (this page) | 1.00 | +77.8% | 1.31 | 11.2% | +21.8% |
| LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.02 | +92.3% | 2.12 | 9.1% | +22.0% |
| AVDV InternationalAvantis International Small Cap Value ETF | 0.30 | +118% | 1.70 | 10.2% | +23.3% |
| EUFN InternationaliShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF | 0.21 | +141% | 1.65 | 10.1% | +24.5% |
| BBCA InternationalJPMorgan BetaBuilders Canada ETF | 0.41 | +97.6% | 1.64 | 10.3% | +22.1% |
| BKGI InternationalBNY Mellon Global Infrastructure Income ETF | 0.02 | +83.3% | 1.60 | 9.4% | +22.0% |
| EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.12 | +80.4% | 1.60 | 9.6% | +21.6% |
| EFV InternationaliShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF | 0.14 | +92.4% | 1.60 | 9.6% | +22.2% |
| EFAV InternationaliShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF | -0.11 | +64.8% | 1.60 | 9.0% | +20.7% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 3Y return | Sharpe | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEPQ JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (this page) | 1.00 | +77.8% | 1.31 | 11.2% | +21.8% |
| CM Banks - DiversifiedCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | 0.44 | +261% | 2.27 | 11.9% | +27.1% |
| BNY Investment - Banking & Investment ServicesBank of New York Mellon Corp | 0.38 | +272% | 2.19 | 10.9% | +28.0% |
| RY Banks - DiversifiedRoyal Bank of Canada | 0.44 | +173% | 2.08 | 11.3% | +24.8% |
| TIGO Telecommunications ServicesMillicom International Cellular S.A. | -0.08 | +540% | 1.99 | 10.0% | +34.0% |
| CIB Banks - RegionalGrupo Cibest S.A. | 0.02 | +398% | 1.95 | 11.1% | +30.7% |
Common questions
What was JEPQ's worst drawdown?
JEPQ's deepest decline since it began trading in 2022 was 20.1%, from February to April 2025. It took four months from the low to climb back to its old high. Because JEPQ launched in May 2022, that record does not include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or six other sell-offs.
What were JEPQ's best and worst years?
Over three full calendar years, JEPQ's best year was 2023, when it returned 36.3%. Its worst was 2025, with a return of +15.2%.
Is there a better investment than JEPQ?
Looking beyond its popular alternatives, CGDV (US dividend equity) and FDL (US dividend equity) earned more than JEPQ with less volatility over the past 3 years. CGDV returned 25.4% a year at 13.7% volatility, against 21.1% a year at 15.6%. Few investments have done better on both counts: only 61 of the 3,928 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than JEPQ with less volatility over the past 3 years, among them VT, IWD and DCOR.
Is JEPQ more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. JEPQ's volatility over the past 3 years was 15.6%, 1.0 times the S&P 500's 15.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, JEPQ's return lands within 15.6% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.
What is JEPQ's Sharpe ratio?
JEPQ's Sharpe ratio over the past 3 years was 1.31, against 1.48 for the S&P 500, so JEPQ earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.
How correlated is JEPQ with the S&P 500?
Over the past 3 years, JEPQ's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.88 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They move almost in lockstep, so holding both adds little diversification. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against JEPQ instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a JEPQ holding.
What are the best alternatives to JEPQ?
Of the 15 popular alternatives we compared, five outperformed JEPQ in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 1 of 1 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: XLK, QQQM and QQQ.
Did JEPQ outperform the S&P 500?
JEPQ finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in one of three full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +15.2%, against +17.7% for the index.
What diversifies JEPQ?
These had a low correlation with JEPQ over the past 3 years and still earned a positive 3-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.02), AVDV (correlation 0.30) and EUFN (correlation 0.21); among large stocks, CM (correlation 0.44), BNY (correlation 0.38) and RY (correlation 0.44). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than JEPQ's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of JEPQ's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 1 of 1 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 3 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.
More research
Popular alternatives to JEPQ
XLKState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
QQQMInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETF
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
SCHGSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF
JEPIJPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF
BNDVanguard Total Bond Market ETF