Dividend comparison
MSTW vs MSTY: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Roundhill Investments - MSTR WeeklyPay ETF and YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. MSTW is cheaper at 1.00% a year versus 1.03% for MSTY. On $10,000 that is $3 a year less in fees.
- Income. MSTW pays more income, yielding 155.53% over the last twelve months versus 141.10% for MSTY. That is about $1,443 more a year on $10,000. MSTW pays weekly, MSTY pays monthly.
- Performance. Over the last 1 year, MSTY returned -45.7% versus -82.7% for MSTW, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $5,430 in MSTY and $1,734 in MSTW.
- Risk. MSTW has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -92.5%, against -80.7% for MSTY.
- Diversification. MSTY holds 26 positions and MSTW holds 2. The ten largest positions make up 690.9% of MSTW and 0.0% of MSTY.
- Size. MSTY is the larger fund with $1.0 billion in assets, against $74 million for MSTW.
Bottom line: MSTW fits better if you care most about lower fees and more income today. MSTY fits better if you care most about stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification.
| Metric | MSTW Roundhill Investments - MSTR WeeklyPay ETF | MSTY YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 155.53% | 141.10% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $6.66 | $20.32 |
| Payout frequency | Weekly | Monthly |
| Last dividend | $0.0520 on Oct 20, 2026 | $0.2474 on Oct 16, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Oct 19, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Price | $4.28 | $14.40 |
| Beta | 3.36 | 2.15 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -92.5% | -80.7% |
| Market cap | $14.1M | $792.6M |
| Exchange | CBOE | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 1.00% | 1.03% |
| Assets under management | $74.4M | $1.02B |
| Number of holdings | 2 | 26 |
| Top 10 concentration | 690.9% | 0.0% |
MSTW
$1296.11/mo
$15553 /yr at 155.53% yield
MSTY
$1175.85/mo
$14110 /yr at 141.10% yield
| Year | MSTW | MSTY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $87.2054 |
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 MSTW vs MSTY actually do
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
| Period | MSTW | MSTY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -15.42% | -6.07% |
| 3 months | 26.25% | 37.14% |
| Year to date | -56.37% | -6.31% |
| 1 year | -82.66% | -45.70% |
| 3 years | — | — |
| 5 years | — | — |
- MSTW
- MSTY
Both series indexed to 100 on 2025-07-24 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- MSTW
- MSTY
MSTW2 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| MSTR 260828C00035000MSTR US 08/28/26 C35 | 87.19% |
| MSTR 260821C00030000MSTR US 08/21/26 C30 | 85.07% |
| MSTR 260904C00040000MSTR US 09/04/26 C40 | 84.85% |
| MSTR 260814C00030000MSTR US 08/14/26 C30 | 84.71% |
| MSTR 260807C00030000MSTR US 08/07/26 C30 | 82.76% |
| MSTR 260731C00030000MSTR US 07/31/26 C30 | 82.44% |
| MSTR 260724C00030000MSTR US 07/24/26 C30 | 81.94% |
| MSTR 261016C00050000MSTR US 10/16/26 C50 | 80.90% |
| FGXXXFirst American Government Obligations Fund 12/01/2031 | 21.08% |
Quick verdict
MSTW fits better if you care most about lower fees and more income today. MSTY fits better if you care most about stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is MSTW or MSTY better for dividend income?
What is the difference between MSTW and MSTY?
Which is cheaper, MSTW or MSTY?
Which has performed better, MSTW or MSTY?
Which is riskier, MSTW or MSTY?
How often do MSTW and MSTY pay dividends?
How much income does $10,000 in MSTW vs MSTY generate?
Can I hold both MSTW and MSTY?
Where can I compare MSTW vs MSTY with my full portfolio?
Related comparisons
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.