Dividend comparison

MST vs MSTY: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Leveraged Long + Income MSTR ETF and YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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MST vs MSTY: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. MSTY is cheaper at 1.03% a year versus 2.02% for MST. On $10,000 that is $99 a year less in fees.
  • Income. MST pays more income, yielding 256.16% over the last twelve months versus 141.10% for MSTY. That is about $11,505 more a year on $10,000. MST pays weekly, MSTY pays monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 1 year, MSTY returned -45.7% versus -87.3% for MST, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $5,430 in MSTY and $1,271 in MST.
  • Risk. MST has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -97.9%, against -80.7% for MSTY.
  • Diversification. MSTY holds 26 positions and MST holds 13.
  • Size. MSTY is the larger fund with $1.0 billion in assets, against $20 million for MST.

Bottom line: MST fits better if you care most about more income today. MSTY fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricMST
Leveraged Long + Income MSTR ETF
MSTY
YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)256.16%141.10%
Dividend / share (TTM)$31.58$20.32
Payout frequencyWeeklyMonthly
Last dividend$0.0947 on Oct 15, 2026$0.2474 on Oct 16, 2026
Ex-dividend dateOct 14, 2026Oct 15, 2026
Price$12.33$14.40
Beta4.972.15
Max drawdown (5Y)-97.9%-80.7%
Market cap$1.1M$792.6M
ExchangeNASDAQAMEX
Expense ratio2.02%1.03%
Assets under management$20.4M$1.02B
Number of holdings1326
Top 10 concentration—0.0%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

MST

$2134.63/mo

$25616 /yr at 256.16% yield

MSTY

$1175.85/mo

$14110 /yr at 141.10% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. MST pays weekly; MSTY pays monthly.
YearMSTMSTY
2025—$87.2054
Strategy: Single-stock option income
Funds that hold synthetic exposure to one stock, or a basket of them, and sell call options against it every week or month to pay very large distributions. The payout comes from option premium, which is high because the underlying stocks are volatile. When the stock rallies hard, the fund keeps only a slice of the gain; when it falls, the fund takes most of the loss.

Distributions can include return of capital and the share price tends to erode over time, so the headline yield overstates what the investor actually keeps.

What MST vs MSTY actually do

MSTY
A YieldMax fund that generates weekly income from options on a single stock, Strategy Inc, without owning the shares.

It holds no Strategy shares at all. It builds synthetic long exposure with options and sells calls or call spreads against it, harvesting premium from one of the most volatile large stocks in the market, itself a leveraged proxy for bitcoin. The distribution is set by the manager and varies week to week, and past payments have included return of capital, meaning part of what arrives is your own money coming back rather than income earned. Fees run around 1% a year.

Suits only an investor treating a small, losable allocation as a speculative income trade with eyes open. It is not an income substitute for a diversified fund: it carries single-stock risk on a company whose value is tied to bitcoin, its upside is capped by design, and its net asset value can fall sharply and permanently even while distributions continue.

Speculative, single-stock, capital at high risk

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on May 2, 2025 would now be worth $495 in MST and $3,477 in MSTY.
PeriodMSTMSTY
1 month-16.46%-6.07%
3 months60.55%37.14%
Year to date-53.26%-6.31%
1 year-87.29%-45.70%
3 years——
5 years——
  • MST
  • MSTY
-65711920252026535

Both series indexed to 100 on 2025-05-02 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • MST
  • MSTY
0%25%50%75%100%Cash & Others100.0%100.0%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

MSTY26 holdings total

NameWeight
MSTRStrategy Inc0.00%

Quick verdict

MST fits better if you care most about more income today. MSTY fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is MST or MSTY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. MST currently yields 256.16% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while MSTY yields 141.10%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between MST and MSTY?
Leveraged Long + Income MSTR ETF (MST) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (MSTY) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, MST or MSTY?
MSTY has the lower expense ratio. MST charges 2.02% a year and MSTY charges 1.03%, a difference of $99 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, MST or MSTY?
Over the last 1 year, MSTY has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: MST returned -87.3% and MSTY returned -45.7%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, MST or MSTY?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, MST has been riskier: MST fell as much as 97.9% and MSTY as much as 80.7%. Their betas are 4.97 and 2.15.
How often do MST and MSTY pay dividends?
MST pays weekly and MSTY pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in MST vs MSTY generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in MST would generate roughly $2134.63 per month ($25616 annually). The same amount in MSTY would produce about $1175.85 per month ($14110 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both MST and MSTY?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare MST vs MSTY with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how MST and MSTY fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.