R3AL vs JEPI: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
JEPI comes out ahead on 6 of 7 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Worth about $29,128 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
A tighter gap between the buy and sell price.
R3AL vs JEPI side by side
| R3AL leads on 1, JEPI on 6 | R3ALClearBridge Real Income Fund - Active ETF | JEPIJPMorgan Equity Premium Income Active ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | See the PDS | Benchmark: S&P 500 Index |
| Fund manager | ClearBridge | JPMorgan |
| Asset class | International shares | International shares |
| Listed | Jan 2025 | Nov 2022 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.85% | 0.40%✓ |
| AUMfund size | $408m✓ | $154m |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | −$5.5m | −$0.7m✓ |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.41% | 0.13%✓ |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | −4.9% | +1.7%✓ |
| 1 year | −5.6% | +0.4%✓ |
| 3 years p.a. | – | +5.7% |
| 5 years p.a. | – | – |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $9,438 | $10,041✓ |
| 5 years ago | – | – |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
R3AL vs JEPI price chart
Both ETFs on one chart as % change. Use the 1D to All buttons to change the period. Price only, so it leaves out distributions · TradingView
What $10,000 invested is worth now
Only JEPI has a 3 years record: $10,000 then is worth $11,804 today.
Total returns to 30 September 2026, with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage. The price chart above leaves out distributions, so it can look worse. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
What the fees cost you
JEPI's lower fee leaves about $29,128 more in your pocket over 20 years.
Total fees paid on a $100,000 investment, assuming a 7% a year return before fees. Illustration only: it ignores tax, brokerage and differences in returns.
Get the full R3AL vs JEPI report
- Every holding of each ETF: the top 50 companies, with sectors and countries
- Exactly which companies they share, and how much of each
- Fees in dollars over 10, 20 and 30 years
- Every metric side by side, including the index each tracks
- ★ FREE BONUSIs now a good time to invest? The Market Health-O-Meter
FAQs
Which is better, R3AL or JEPI?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers R3AL wins on 1 measures and JEPI on 6. JEPI is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.40% vs 0.85%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $29,128. R3AL is the larger fund at $408m vs $154m. JEPI has the better 1-year return: +0.4% vs −5.6%.
Which is cheaper, R3AL or JEPI?
R3AL charges 0.85% a year and JEPI charges 0.40% a year.
Can I hold both R3AL and JEPI?
You can, but check how much they overlap. R3AL is a international shares fund and JEPI is a international shares fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.