Dividend comparison

MSTY vs SMCY: Which Is Better for Income?

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

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MSTY vs SMCY: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. SMCY is cheaper at 1.01% a year versus 1.03% for MSTY. On $10,000 that is $2 a year less in fees.
  • Income. SMCY pays more income, yielding 146.13% over the last twelve months versus 141.10% for MSTY. That is about $503 more a year on $10,000. Both pay monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 1 year, MSTY returned -45.7% versus -72.4% for SMCY, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $5,430 in MSTY and $2,760 in SMCY.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 1 year were similar: -80.7% for MSTY and -80.1% for SMCY from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. MSTY holds 26 positions and SMCY holds 1. The ten largest positions make up 0.0% of MSTY and -0.1% of SMCY.
  • Size. MSTY is the larger fund with $1.0 billion in assets, against $115 million for SMCY.

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

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricMSTY
YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF
SMCY
YieldMax SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)141.10%146.13%
Dividend / share (TTM)$20.32$5.98
Payout frequencyMonthlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.2474 on Oct 16, 2026$0.0585 on Oct 16, 2026
Ex-dividend dateOct 15, 2026Oct 15, 2026
Price$14.40$4.09
Beta2.152.60
Max drawdown (5Y)-80.7%-80.1%
Market cap$792.6M$52.2M
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio1.03%1.01%
Assets under management$1.02B$114.7M
Number of holdings261
Top 10 concentration0.0%-0.1%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

MSTY

$1175.85/mo

$14110 /yr at 141.10% yield

SMCY

$1217.73/mo

$14613 /yr at 146.13% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. MSTY pays monthly; SMCY pays monthly.
YearMSTYSMCY
2025$87.2054$18.7460
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 MSTY vs SMCY 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 Aug 20, 2024 would now be worth $7,656 in MSTY and $6,041 in SMCY.
PeriodMSTYSMCY
1 month-6.07%-22.83%
3 months37.14%-0.97%
Year to date-6.31%-48.94%
1 year-45.70%-72.40%
3 years——
5 years——
  • MSTY
  • SMCY
341703072024202520267760

Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-08-20 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.
  • MSTY
  • SMCY
0%25%50%75%100%Cash & Others100.0%
MSTY vs SMCY holdings overlap
At least 0% overlap by weight, with 0 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

MSTY26 holdings total

NameWeight
MSTRStrategy Inc0.00%

SMCY1 holdings total

NameWeight
SMCISuper Micro Computer Inc-0.05%

Quick verdict

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

Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how MSTY vs SMCY fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
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Frequently asked questions

Is MSTY or SMCY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. MSTY currently yields 141.10% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while SMCY yields 146.13%. 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 MSTY and SMCY?
YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (MSTY) is an ETF listed on AMEX. YieldMax SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF (SMCY) 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, MSTY or SMCY?
SMCY has the lower expense ratio. MSTY charges 1.03% a year and SMCY charges 1.01%, a difference of $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, MSTY or SMCY?
Over the last 1 year, MSTY has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: MSTY returned -45.7% and SMCY returned -72.4%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, MSTY or SMCY?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, MSTY has been riskier: MSTY fell as much as 80.7% and SMCY as much as 80.1%. Their betas are 2.15 and 2.60.
How often do MSTY and SMCY pay dividends?
Both pay monthly. The most recent payments were $0.2474 for MSTY and $0.0585 for SMCY.
How much income does $10,000 in MSTY vs SMCY generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in MSTY would generate roughly $1175.85 per month ($14110 annually). The same amount in SMCY would produce about $1217.73 per month ($14613 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both MSTY and SMCY?
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 MSTY vs SMCY with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how MSTY and SMCY 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.