Canadian ETF comparison
ECHI vs HHIC: Canadian High Income ETF Comparison
ECHI and HHIC both turn a concentrated basket of large Canadian companies into high income using covered calls and about 25% leverage. ECHI gets there through Ninepoint's single-stock HighShares ETFs and pays twice a month; HHIC holds its Canadian stocks directly and pays monthly.
Track ECHI and HHIC income in Yieldello →Quick comparison
| Field | ECHINinepoint Enhanced Canadian HighShares ETF | HHICHarvest Canadian High Income Shares ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Covered-call approach | Through underlying single-stock HighShares ETFs, with calls on up to 50% of the portfolio | Active covered calls written on its own stock holdings |
| Geographic focus | Canadian companies (TSX-listed) | Canadian companies (TSX-listed) |
| Holdings | Ninepoint single-stock HighShares ETFs on about 13 Canadian companies | Concentrated portfolio of about 15 Canadian stocks |
| Leverage | About 25%, inside the underlying ETFs | About 25% |
| Currency | CAD | CAD |
| Distributions | Twice a month | Monthly (variable) |
| Fees | No fund-level management fee; the underlying ETFs charge 0.29% | 0.40% management fee |
| Provider | Ninepoint Partners | Harvest ETFs |
| Inception | August 22, 2025 | August 21, 2025 |
Facts as of October 2026, from each provider: Ninepoint: ECHI, Harvest ETFs: HHIC. Yield and fund size change too often to show here; check the provider before investing.
Key differences
- Construction: ECHI holds Ninepoint's single-stock ETFs, each borrowing and writing calls on one company; HHIC holds its stocks directly and manages calls and leverage across the whole portfolio.
- Sector mix: ECHI is heavily weighted to energy and financials (about 42% and 29% of its look-through holdings at Sept 30, 2026); check HHIC's current weights, which also lean on banks and energy.
- Payments and fees: ECHI pays twice a month and its underlying ETFs charge 0.29%; HHIC pays monthly and charges 0.40%.
Income and distributions
Both pay variable distributions from dividends, option premiums and portfolio results, boosted by about 25% borrowing. Amounts can change, and part of a payment can be return of capital rather than income.
The payment schedule differs (twice a month for ECHI, monthly for HHIC), but that doesn't change what you earn in a year. Compare the dollars received and their trend.
What Is Return of Capital (ROC)?Why Covered Call ETF Distributions Change
Performance and total return
Both launched in August 2025, a day apart, so they share a short, directly comparable history. Covered calls cap part of the upside on the stocks they're written on, and leverage deepens losses when Canadian stocks fall.
Compare total return (price change plus distributions) over the same period, alongside the income paid.
Underlying exposure
Both own a small group of large Canadian companies, so a few banks, energy producers and resource companies drive most of the result. ECHI's look-through holdings include names such as TD, Royal Bank, Shopify, Suncor and Cameco.
If you already own Canadian banks, energy, a Canadian dividend ETF, or HONE (which holds HHIC), either fund repeats much of that exposure.
The bottom line
ECHI may appeal more if…
- Twice-monthly payments suit how you budget.
- A lower underlying fee and a single-stock-ETF structure are preferred.
- Its heavy energy and financials weighting fits the rest of the portfolio.
HHIC may appeal more if…
- Monthly payments are fine, and one manager handling calls and leverage across the portfolio is preferred.
- Its directly held Canadian stock portfolio fits the plan.
- It doesn't duplicate HONE or Harvest ETFs already owned.
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Create a Free AccountThis page is for general educational purposes only and is not investment advice. ETF characteristics, distributions, fees, and risks can change over time. Review issuer documents and consider your own circumstances before making investment decisions.