Dividend comparison
YMAX vs YMAG: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs and YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
YMAX vs YMAG: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. YMAX is cheaper at 1.33% a year versus 1.34% for YMAG. On $10,000 that is $1 a year less in fees.
- Income. YMAX pays more income, yielding 61.45% over the last twelve months versus 47.87% for YMAG. That is about $1,358 more a year on $10,000. Both pay monthly.
- Performance. Over the last 1 year, YMAG returned -23.6% versus -37.6% for YMAX, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $7,639 in YMAG and $6,241 in YMAX.
- Risk. YMAX has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -40.4%, against -28.8% for YMAG.
- Diversification. YMAX holds 38 positions and YMAG holds 9. The ten largest positions make up 62.3% of YMAX and 99.1% of YMAG.
- Overlap. 31% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 6 shared holdings.
Bottom line: YMAX fits better if you care most about more income today and broader diversification. YMAG fits better if you care most about stronger 1-year returns and smaller drawdowns.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | YMAX YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs | YMAG YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 61.45% | 47.87% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $4.51 | $5.34 |
| Payout frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Last dividend | $0.0594 on Oct 15, 2026 | $0.0768 on Oct 15, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Next payment | $0.0563 on Oct 22, 2026 | $0.0766 on Oct 22, 2026 |
| Price | $7.34 | $11.16 |
| Beta | 1.28 | 1.08 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -40.4% | -28.8% |
| Market cap | $417.2M | $285.8M |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 1.33% | 1.34% |
| Assets under management | $353.2M | $286.0M |
| Number of holdings | 38 | 9 |
| Top 10 concentration | 62.3% | 99.1% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
YMAX
$512.09/mo
$6145 /yr at 61.45% yield
YMAG
$398.89/mo
$4787 /yr at 47.87% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. YMAX pays monthly; YMAG pays monthly.
| Year | YMAX | YMAG |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7.7483 | $7.4382 |
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 Jan 30, 2024 would now be worth $8,875 in YMAX and $12,026 in YMAG.
| Period | YMAX | YMAG |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -3.80% | -1.33% |
| 3 months | -2.39% | -3.88% |
| Year to date | -26.45% | -21.57% |
| 1 year | -37.59% | -23.61% |
| 3 years | — | — |
| 5 years | — | — |
- YMAX
- YMAG
Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-01-30 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.
- YMAX
- YMAG
YMAX vs YMAG holdings overlap
31% overlap by weight, with 6 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | YMAX weight | YMAG weight |
|---|---|---|
| APLYYieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF | 6.65% | 14.30% |
| FBYYieldMax Meta Option Income Strategy ETF | 6.36% | 14.17% |
| MSFOYieldMax MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF | 5.10% | 14.63% |
| TSLYYieldMax Tsla Option Income ETF | 5.06% | 13.79% |
| AMZYYieldMax Amzn Option Income ETF | 4.43% | 14.32% |
| NVDYYieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF | 3.49% | 13.91% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
YMAX38 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| MRNYYieldMax MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF | 10.93% |
| APLYYieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF | 6.65% |
| HOOYYieldMax HOOD Option Income Strategy ETF | 6.53% |
| FBYYieldMax Meta Option Income Strategy ETF | 6.36% |
| AMDYYieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF | 5.97% |
| GDXYYieldMax Gold Miners Option Income Strategy ETF | 5.38% |
| SMCYYieldMax Smci Option Income Strategy ETF | 5.37% |
| MSFOYieldMax MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF | 5.10% |
| TSLYYieldMax Tsla Option Income ETF | 5.06% |
| GPTYYieldMax AI & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF | 4.94% |
YMAG9 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| MSFOYieldMax MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF | 14.63% |
| AMZYYieldMax Amzn Option Income ETF | 14.32% |
| APLYYieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF | 14.30% |
| FBYYieldMax Meta Option Income Strategy ETF | 14.17% |
| GOOYYieldMax GOOGL Option Income Strategy ETF | 13.96% |
| NVDYYieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF | 13.91% |
| TSLYYieldMax Tsla Option Income ETF | 13.79% |
Quick verdict
YMAX fits better if you care most about more income today and broader diversification. YMAG fits better if you care most about stronger 1-year returns and smaller drawdowns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how YMAX vs YMAG fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is YMAX or YMAG better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. YMAX currently yields 61.45% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while YMAG yields 47.87%. 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 YMAX and YMAG?
YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs (YMAX) is an ETF listed on AMEX. YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETF (YMAG) 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, YMAX or YMAG?
YMAX has the lower expense ratio. YMAX charges 1.33% a year and YMAG charges 1.34%, a difference of $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, YMAX or YMAG?
Over the last 1 year, YMAG has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: YMAX returned -37.6% and YMAG returned -23.6%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, YMAX or YMAG?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, YMAX has been riskier: YMAX fell as much as 40.4% and YMAG as much as 28.8%. Their betas are 1.28 and 1.08.
How much do YMAX and YMAG overlap?
About 31% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 6 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are APLY, FBY, MSFO. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do YMAX and YMAG pay dividends?
Both pay monthly. The most recent payments were $0.0594 for YMAX and $0.0768 for YMAG.
How much income does $10,000 in YMAX vs YMAG generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in YMAX would generate roughly $512.09 per month ($6145 annually). The same amount in YMAG would produce about $398.89 per month ($4787 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both YMAX and YMAG?
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 YMAX vs YMAG with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how YMAX and YMAG 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.