Then there’s the Hamilton Canadian Financial institution Imply Reversion Index ETF (HCA), which tracks the Solactive Canadian Financial institution Imply Reversion Index TR. Each quarter, HCA sometimes allocates 80% of its portfolio to the three banks which have underperformed lately, and 20% to the three which have outperformed, banking (pun meant!) on the concept that underperformers may bounce again.

These customized methods can come at a better price. TBNK costs a 0.28% MER, RBNK is available in at 0.32%, and HCA tops the record at 0.45%. Thus far, these further charges haven’t translated into main outperformance. From Might 2023 to Might 2025, whole returns for these ETFs have been inside about 1% cumulatively above or beneath the easier equal-weighted ZEB.

HCA, TBNK, RBNK and ZEB historic cumulative whole returns

Use case: These ETFs simply is perhaps a match if you wish to get just a little fancier together with your publicity—making a extra energetic guess on which banks will outperform based mostly on dividend progress, yield or value reversion—and are comfy paying larger charges for the likelihood (not a assure) of outperformance.

These ETFs fall below the umbrella of other methods, which means they transcend conventional long-only buy-and-hold approaches. They typically make use of derivatives or leverage, aiming to reinforce some facet of publicity, whether or not that’s yield, value returns or each.

A traditional instance is the BMO Coated Name Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB). It holds all six main banks, mirroring ZEB, nevertheless it layers on a covered-call technique by promoting choices on its holdings. This caps upside however boosts earnings, producing a yield made up of dividend earnings, capital positive aspects and return of capital. 

BMO sells these calls out of the cash and on a discretionary foundation, which means not each place is roofed always, giving the portfolio barely extra upside potential in comparison with systematic call-writing methods. You possibly can get a stable 6.66% distribution yield, however with way more muted value appreciation.

The Hamilton Enhanced Canadian Financial institution ETF (HCAL) can be utilized for a distinct strategy. It doesn’t use choices in any respect. As an alternative, it applies 1.25 occasions (125%) leverage to the Solactive Equal Weight Canada Banks Index, the identical one utilized by ZEB, HEB and HBNK. 

In contrast to typical leveraged ETFs that reset day by day by way of swaps, HCAL borrows cash utilizing money margin loans, which suggests its returns aren’t distorted by day by day compounding. This setup amplifies each upside and draw back, and in addition boosts yield to six.42%, as distributions are paid on the bigger notional publicity.