Dividend comparison
MSTY vs TSLY: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF and YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. MSTY is cheaper at 1.03% a year versus 1.07% for TSLY. On $10,000 that is $4 a year less in fees.
- Income. MSTY pays more income, yielding 141.10% over the last twelve months versus 81.23% for TSLY. That is about $5,987 more a year on $10,000. Both pay monthly.
- Performance. Over the last 1 year, TSLY returned -10.5% versus -45.7% for MSTY, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $8,951 in TSLY and $5,430 in MSTY.
- Risk. MSTY has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -80.7%, against -49.5% for TSLY.
- Diversification. MSTY holds 26 positions and TSLY holds 10.
Bottom line: MSTY fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and broader diversification. TSLY fits better if you care most about stronger 1-year returns and smaller drawdowns.
| Metric | MSTY YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF | TSLY YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 141.10% | 81.23% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $20.32 | $17.67 |
| Payout frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Last dividend | $0.2474 on Oct 16, 2026 | $0.2063 on Oct 16, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Price | $14.40 | $21.75 |
| Beta | 2.15 | 1.43 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -80.7% | -49.5% |
| Market cap | $792.6M | $468.5M |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 1.03% | 1.07% |
| Assets under management | $1.02B | $660.0M |
| Number of holdings | 26 | 10 |
| Top 10 concentration | 0.0% | — |
MSTY
$1175.85/mo
$14110 /yr at 141.10% yield
TSLY
$676.94/mo
$8123 /yr at 81.23% yield
| Year | MSTY | TSLY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $87.2054 | $34.2314 |
| 2024 | — | $55.4491 |
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 TSLY 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 | MSTY | TSLY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -6.07% | 1.45% |
| 3 months | 37.14% | -1.63% |
| Year to date | -6.31% | -12.44% |
| 1 year | -45.70% | -10.49% |
| 3 years | — | 24.86% |
| 5 years | — | — |
- MSTY
- TSLY
Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-02-22 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- MSTY
- TSLY
Quick verdict
MSTY fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and broader diversification. TSLY fits better if you care most about stronger 1-year returns and smaller drawdowns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
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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.