Dividend comparison
ULTY vs NVDY: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF and YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
ULTY vs NVDY: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. NVDY is cheaper at 1.09% a year versus 1.40% for ULTY. On $10,000 that is $31 a year less in fees.
- Income. ULTY pays more income, yielding 98.01% over the last twelve months versus 53.28% for NVDY. That is about $4,474 more a year on $10,000. Both pay weekly.
- Performance. Over the last 1 year, ULTY returned -8.8% versus -20.9% for NVDY, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $9,116 in ULTY and $7,908 in NVDY.
- Risk. NVDY has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -34.1%, against -28.3% for ULTY.
- Diversification. ULTY holds 112 positions and NVDY holds 7.
- Size. NVDY is the larger fund with $1.3 billion in assets, against $654 million for ULTY.
Bottom line: ULTY fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. NVDY fits better if you care most about lower fees.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | ULTY YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF | NVDY YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 98.01% | 53.28% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $23.25 | $6.30 |
| Payout frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Last dividend | $0.2955 on Oct 15, 2026 | $0.0797 on Oct 16, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Next payment | $0.2772 on Oct 22, 2026 | — |
| Price | $23.72 | $11.83 |
| Dividend growth streak | — | 1 year |
| Beta | 1.45 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -28.3% | -34.1% |
| Market cap | $1.53B | $1.32B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 1.40% | 1.09% |
| Assets under management | $653.5M | $1.34B |
| Number of holdings | 112 | 7 |
| Top 10 concentration | 43.9% | — |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
ULTY
$816.79/mo
$9801 /yr at 98.01% yield
NVDY
$443.98/mo
$5328 /yr at 53.28% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. ULTY pays weekly; NVDY pays weekly.
| Year | ULTY | NVDY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52.6126 | $12.1415 |
| 2024 | — | $19.5329 |
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.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Feb 29, 2024 would now be worth $9,137 in ULTY and $14,551 in NVDY.
| Period | ULTY | NVDY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -3.73% | -5.59% |
| 3 months | 1.32% | -4.29% |
| Year to date | 5.89% | -18.24% |
| 1 year | -8.84% | -20.92% |
| 3 years | — | 137.55% |
| 5 years | — | — |
- ULTY
- NVDY
Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-02-29 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.
- ULTY
- NVDY
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
ULTY112 holdings total
Quick verdict
ULTY fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. NVDY fits better if you care most about lower fees. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how ULTY vs NVDY fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is ULTY or NVDY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. ULTY currently yields 98.01% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while NVDY yields 53.28%. 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 ULTY and NVDY?
YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF (ULTY) is an ETF listed on AMEX. YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF (NVDY) 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, ULTY or NVDY?
NVDY has the lower expense ratio. ULTY charges 1.40% a year and NVDY charges 1.09%, a difference of $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, ULTY or NVDY?
Over the last 1 year, ULTY has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: ULTY returned -8.8% and NVDY returned -20.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, ULTY or NVDY?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, NVDY has been riskier: ULTY fell as much as 28.3% and NVDY as much as 34.1%. Their betas are 1.45 and 1.28.
How often do ULTY and NVDY pay dividends?
Both pay weekly. The most recent payments were $0.2955 for ULTY and $0.0797 for NVDY.
How much income does $10,000 in ULTY vs NVDY generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in ULTY would generate roughly $816.79 per month ($9801 annually). The same amount in NVDY would produce about $443.98 per month ($5328 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both ULTY and NVDY?
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 ULTY vs NVDY with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how ULTY and NVDY 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.