IncomeShares Challenge: October Returns Snapshot

The IncomeShares Challenge follows four well-known Italian investors over twelve months. Each opened a real brokerage account at Directa on 15 June with €3,000. They can only buy or sell IncomeShares exchange-traded products (ETPs), but they pick their own investments from the range.

This fourth monthly snapshot shows how each investor's portfolio performed up to 20 October – and what changed since September.

How the IncomeShares Challenge works 

We've partnered with Directa to give investors commission-free purchases on IncomeShares ETPs, subject to certain conditions. Directa is an independent Italian broker, and its platform gives the four participants direct access to IncomeShares ETPs across European exchanges. On Euronext Amsterdam, it charges them no commission at all on IncomeShares purchases of €1,000 or more. Every sale still carries a fee, wherever it happens.

All four investors make YouTube videos about markets and income investing:

• Gianluca Ranieri Bandini

• Andrea Ferrante, who publishes as Andrea getquin

• Federico La Torella, better known as Il Re dei Dividendi

• Lorenzo Boiardi, who runs Investire in Borsa a caccia di dividendi

The figures come from their monthly Directa statements, from 15 June to 20 October. All four investors received their fourth monthly distribution on 13 October. A distribution is the cash payment an ETP makes to the investors who hold it.

Note: we've shown everything before withholding tax, so the four investors compare like for like. What each investor pays in tax depends on their own circumstances.

Total return after four months: gains and losses plus income 

Andrea moved into the lead at plus 3.19% – the highest total return at any snapshot so far. Lorenzo, who led in the September snapshot, was next in line and also stayed above his starting €3,000.

Income received since the challenge began 

Federico has collected the most income since the challenge began, at €392.70. Most of it came from the two semiconductor ETPs he held until September.

What the four investors held, bought, and sold

Three investors added shares to ETPs they already held in October, and Federico made no trades.

• Andrea bought ten more shares of our S&P 500 Options ETP on 1 October. It paid him €70.44 on 13 October, and its price rose 0.7% over the month.

• Gianluca bought five more shares of our Eurostoxx 50 Options ETP on 1 October. Its price fell 1.9% over the month, though it paid him €19.45.

• Lorenzo bought one more share of our Magnificent 7 Options ETP on 15 October. His three ETPs paid him €46.17 between them.

• Federico kept both of his ETPs. The Gold+ Yield ETP paid him €11.26 on 13 October – his first distribution from it.

Key highlights 

• Andrea took the IncomeShares Challenge lead at plus 3.19% – the highest total return at any snapshot so far.

• Federico has collected the most income at €392.70, a 13.09% yield on his starting €3,000.

• Lorenzo stayed above his starting €3,000 at plus 0.82%, with his money split almost evenly across three ETPs. Gianluca slipped to minus 2.78%.