At a glance
WEEI charges 0.85% a year, below the 0.97% average of the 3 funds most like it (the cheapest of 4). It has $98.4M in assets, the 4th largest of that group; it paid 10.55% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, monthly. Over the past year it returned +39.5% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), the best of those 4 funds. Its ten largest positions make up 78.6% of the fund, out of 21 in all.
The short version
Westwood Salient Enhanced Energy Income ETF (WEEI) is an actively managed fund that holds mostly North American energy stocks, led by ExxonMobil and Chevron. It writes covered call options on most of those stocks to earn extra income, and its trailing 12-month yield was 10.55% as of October 27, 2026, paid monthly. Its 0.85% expense ratio ties for the lowest among the similar funds compared and is below their 0.97% average.
Price history
The interactive chart needs JavaScript.
WEEI +39.5% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEI official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +11.25% | — | — | — | +3.87% |
| S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) index, same period | — | +17.88% | — | — | — | +21.77% |
| WEEI price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +34.4% | +39.5% | — | — | — | +16.3% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, WEEI returned +39.5%, 1st of 4 among similar funds.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2025 (+11.6%); its best was 2025 (+11.6%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 18.7% (Nov 22, 2024 to Apr 8, 2025), recovered by Nov 11, 2025.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +34.4% | — |
| 2025 | +11.6% | +11.25% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Before this security existed |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Before this security existed |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $2.3000 | |
| 2025 | $2.7600 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 21 securities; the ten largest made up 78.58% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| EXXONMOBIL HOLDINGS CORP | 24.05% | |
| CHEVRON CORP | 14.68% | |
| CONOCOPHILLIPS | 6.11% | |
| VALERO ENERGY CORP | 6.10% | |
| MARATHON PETROLEUM CORP | 5.24% | |
| PHILLIPS 66 | 4.83% | |
| WILLIAMS COMPANIES INC (THE) | 4.61% | |
| SLB LTD | 4.57% | |
| BAKER HUGHES COMPANY | 4.28% | |
| EOG RESOURCES INC | 4.13% | |
| KINDER MORGAN INC | 3.75% | |
| TARGA RESOURCES CORP | 3.72% | |
| ONEOK INC | 3.43% | |
| DEVON ENERGY CORP | 3.32% | |
| DIAMONDBACK ENERGY INC | 2.14% |
By country
United States 99.09%Curaçao 4.57%By asset type
Stocks 103.66%By sector
Sectors of the companies held, for the 72.1% of the fund in companies that have a stock page here; other holdings and cash aren't classified. Source: N-PORT holdings report as of Jul 31, 2026. Cash, money-market funds and derivatives are shown separately from the securities list.What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors added a net $25.1M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -3.21%, -3.95%, +9.68%.
How it works
WEEI does not track an index. Its adviser, Westwood Management Corp., invests at least 80% of net assets in "Energy Companies." That term covers the GICS energy sector plus any company that earns at least half its revenue or profits from oil, gas, pipelines, refining, coal, uranium, renewables, power transmission or carbon capture. The team picks stocks one by one, using its own valuation models. It looks at cash flow, growth, sensitivity to commodity prices, balance sheet strength and hedging. The fund is non-diversified and can put up to 25% of total assets in one company. As of July 31, 2026, it held 21 stocks. ExxonMobil made up 24.0% and Chevron 14.7%, and the top 10 together came to 78.6%.
The "Enhanced" in the name refers to covered calls. A call option gives its buyer the right to buy a stock at a set price, called the strike. WEEI writes calls on stocks it already owns and keeps the cash the buyers pay, called the premium. It expects to write calls on 80% or more of its stock holdings. It uses exchange-listed options and FLEX options (exchange-traded contracts with custom terms), all guaranteed by the Options Clearing Corporation. The trade-off: if a stock rises above its strike price, the fund gives up those gains, but it still takes the full loss if the stock falls.
What it really costs
- WEEI charges 0.85% a year, versus an average of 0.97% for the similar funds below (1st of 4, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $87 in the first year and $1,049 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEI | $87 | $271 | $471 | $1,049 |
Structure and tax notes
- Generates much of its income from selling options (directly or through notes). That income is usually taxed as ordinary income rather than as qualified dividends, and the strategy gives up some upside in strong markets.
In a retirement portfolio
WEEI is built to pay high monthly income from energy dividends plus option premiums, though its focus on one sector makes it a small piece of a portfolio rather than a core holding.
WEEI could add monthly income and energy exposure. Its trailing 12-month yield was 10.55% ($2.76 a share) as of October 27, 2026. Income from options is usually taxed as ordinary income, not at the lower rate for qualified dividends. Under the SEC's standard example, the 0.85% expense ratio costs $87 in the first year on $10,000.
Its record is short. The fund launched May 1, 2024, so it has no history in the 2008, 2020 or 2022 downturns. Its only full calendar year, 2025, returned 11.25%. Its deepest drop was 18.7%, from November 22, 2024 to April 8, 2025. It got back to that peak by November 11, 2025, about seven months after the low. Anyone drawing cash during a slump like that would be cashing out at lower prices. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Income seekers who want monthly payouts; the trailing yield was 10.55% as of October 27, 2026, from energy dividends plus covered call premiums.
- Investors who want an energy income fund at 0.85% a year, below the 0.97% average of the similar funds compared.
- People comfortable with concentration: ExxonMobil and Chevron made up about 39% of assets as of July 31, 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Investors who want the full gain from energy rallies; covered calls on 80% or more of the holdings cap gains above each strike price.
- Those who want a long track record or a large fund: it launched in May 2024 and had about $98 million in net assets.
- Investors who want broad diversification or qualified dividends; the fund holds just 21 stocks, and its option income is usually taxed as ordinary income.
Close alternatives
Matched by closest holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports (no similar fund shares 20% or more of its holdings).
Net assets from each fund's latest N-PORT or annual report where available. Returns through Oct 27, 2026.Questions investors ask
Does WEEI pay monthly dividends?
Yes. WEEI pays distributions monthly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $2.76 a share, a trailing yield of 10.55%. The cash comes from dividends on its energy stocks plus premiums from covered call options it writes. Income from options is usually taxed as ordinary income rather than as qualified dividends. That can matter in a taxable account. Payouts can rise or fall with option premiums and energy markets.
Is WEEI good for retirement income?
It may suit retirees who want high monthly income and accept energy-sector risk. The trailing yield was 10.55% as of October 27, 2026. But the fund is non-diversified and holds only energy-related stocks. ExxonMobil alone made up 24.0% of assets as of July 31, 2026. It launched in May 2024, so it hasn't been tested in a long bear market. Its deepest drop so far was 18.7%.
What's the difference between WEEI and EIPI?
Both are energy funds that write covered call options for income, but they hold fairly different stocks: their holdings overlap by only about 21%. WEEI charges 0.85% a year, while FT Energy Income Partners Enhanced Income ETF (EIPI) charges 1.11%. EIPI is much larger, with about $1.11 billion in net assets as of August 31, 2026. WEEI had about $98 million. Over the year to October 27, 2026, WEEI returned 39.5% and EIPI returned 24.2%.
What are WEEI's top holdings?
As of July 31, 2026, WEEI's largest holdings were ExxonMobil (24.0%), Chevron (14.7%), ConocoPhillips (6.1%), Valero Energy (6.1%), Marathon Petroleum (5.2%), Phillips 66 (4.8%) and Williams Companies (4.6%). The fund held 21 stocks, and the top 10 made up 78.6% of assets. That mix covers oil producers, refiners, pipeline operators and oilfield service firms like SLB and Baker Hughes. On top of the stocks, it held 97 option positions.
How has WEEI performed compared with the S&P 500?
It trailed the S&P 500 through the end of 2025. Over the year to December 31, 2025, WEEI returned 11.25%, while the S&P 500 returned 17.88%. Since launch through that date, it averaged 3.87% a year, against 21.77% for the index. Energy then rallied. Based on price, WEEI returned 34.4% in 2026 through October 27 and 39.5% over the year ending that date.