NUSI vs JEPI Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
NUSI and JEPI both generate options-enhanced income but manage downside risk differently. NUSI explicitly purchases downside protection (put options) at the cost of some income, while JEPI achieves downside mitigation through defensive stock selection without explicit puts. NUSI suits risk-averse investors who want a structural floor; JEPI suits investors comfortable with defensive equity risk mitigation seeking maximum income.
NUSI vs JEPI — Nationwide Risk-Managed Income ETF (Nasdaq-100 collar strategy with explicit put protection and 6-8% monthly income with defined downside floor) versus JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (defensive S&P 500 stocks with ELN call overlay generating 7-9% monthly income with implicit defensive downside mitigation).
JEPI holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison.
- want explicit structural downside protection — the purchased put options provide a defined floor that JEPI's defensive equity selection doesn't guarantee
- are comfortable with lower income (6-8%) in exchange for Nasdaq-100 quality exposure with explicit downside buffering in severe market declines
- prefer Nasdaq-100 technology growth companies as underlying equity vs JEPI's defensive utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples tilt
- value defined risk parameters — knowing both maximum upside and maximum downside from the collar structure provides risk management clarity
- prioritize maximum current income — JEPI's 7-9% yield exceeds NUSI's 6-8% because no put premium is consumed for protection
- accept defensive equity selection (utilities, healthcare, staples) as adequate downside mitigation without paying for explicit put option floors
- prefer simpler structure without trying to predict collar effectiveness in different market regimes
- value JEPI's lower 0.35% expense ratio and JPMorgan institutional options expertise for efficient income generation
| Metric | NUSI | JEPI |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 17.0 | 57.0 |
| Latest closei | $26.78 | $56.24 |
| 1M returni | N/A | -2.34% |
| 6M returni | N/A | +4.57% |
| 1Y returni | N/A | +7.02% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | NUSI | JEPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | N/A | $11.63K (+16.3%) started 2025-09-18 |
| 5Y ago | N/A | $24.53K (+145.3%) started 2021-09-20 |
| 10Y ago | N/A | $39.08K (+290.8%) started 2020-05-21 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | NUSI | JEPI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.68% | 0.35% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $323.76M | $46.16B |
| Dividend yieldi | 7.61% | 7.97% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 17.31 | 25.00 |
| Betai | N/A | 0.53 |
| 52-week change | N/A | 7.02% |
| Metric | NUSI | JEPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | N/A | +7.02% |
| 6M returni | N/A | +4.57% |
| 1M returni | N/A | -2.34% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | N/A | 0.33 |
| Betai | N/A | 0.53 |
| Dividend yieldi | 7.61% | 7.97% |
| 5Y CAGR | N/A | +7.46% |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | NUSI | JEPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | N/A | +7.02% |
| CAGRi | N/A | +7.02% | |
| Volatilityi | N/A | 8.05% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | N/A | 0.33 | |
| Sortino ratioi | N/A | 0.47 | |
| Max drawdowni | N/A | 6.68% | |
| Current drawdowni | N/A | 2.67% | |
| Avg drawdowni | N/A | 1.68% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | N/A | 2.40% | |
| Max daily dropi | N/A | 1.61% | |
| Max wkly dropi | N/A | 2.46% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | N/A | +43.26% |
| CAGRi | N/A | +7.46% | |
| Volatilityi | N/A | 11.09% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | N/A | 0.30 | |
| Sortino ratioi | N/A | 0.42 | |
| Max drawdowni | N/A | 13.71% | |
| Current drawdowni | N/A | 2.67% | |
| Avg drawdowni | N/A | 2.49% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | N/A | 3.73% | |
| Max daily dropi | N/A | 5.56% | |
| Max wkly dropi | N/A | 9.92% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | N/A | +92.75% |
| CAGRi | N/A | +10.93% | |
| Volatilityi | N/A | 10.65% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | N/A | 0.61 | |
| Sortino ratioi | N/A | 0.85 | |
| Max drawdowni | N/A | 13.71% | |
| Current drawdowni | N/A | 2.67% | |
| Avg drawdowni | N/A | 2.10% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | N/A | 3.36% | |
| Max daily dropi | N/A | 5.56% | |
| Max wkly dropi | N/A | 9.92% |
| Category | NUSI | JEPI |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | NEOS Nasdaq-100 Hedged Equity Income ETF | JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.68% | 0.35% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $323.76M | $46.16B |
| Dividend yieldi | 7.61% | 7.97% |
- Explicit downside protection via purchased put options: NUSI's collar strategy buys put options that limit Nasdaq-100 losses beyond a specific threshold — a feature no pure covered call ETF provides
- High-quality Nasdaq-100 underlying: NUSI's tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 equity exposure means quality growth companies (Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Meta) underlie the income strategy
- Monthly income with defined risk parameters: NUSI provides monthly distributions while defining both maximum upside and maximum downside — predictable risk/return profile
- Higher income (7-9%) vs NUSI because no put option premium cost: JEPI doesn't buy downside protection — keeping more option income for distributions
- Broader 100+ stock defensive diversification: JEPI's defensive equity selection across S&P 500 provides market risk reduction without the explicit cost of put options
- Lower expense ratio (0.35%) vs NUSI's higher cost structure: JEPI's institutional ELN efficiency at lower fees vs NUSI's collar premium costs
- Higher cost structure: buying put options for downside protection reduces net income vs pure covered call strategies — NUSI's yield is lower than pure income ETFs because some premium pays for put protection
- Limited upside capped by sold calls: in strong Nasdaq-100 bull markets, NUSI's sold calls cap appreciation — both upside and downside are bounded
- Complex collar mechanics may not always provide intended protection: collar strikes reset monthly — protection level varies based on option pricing environment, and severe crashes may occur between reset periods
- No explicit floor protection: JEPI's defensive tilt reduces but doesn't eliminate downside — in severe equity crashes, JEPI falls meaningfully (though less than S&P 500)
- S&P 500 exposure vs Nasdaq-100: JEPI's S&P 500 defensive approach has less technology growth potential than NUSI's Nasdaq-100 underlying
- ELN counterparty exposure to JPMorgan: complex financial instrument adds institutional dependency vs NUSI's more straightforward listed option collar
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