CTA ETF — Simplify Managed Futures Strategy ETF

Simplify Managed Futures Strategy ETF (CTA)

Updated October 16, 2026.

CTA is an ETF. its distribution rate is 5.17%, its trailing-12-month yield is 5.04%, its expense ratio is 0.75%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 71/100 (Generally safe). Total return is 54.8% over the past 4.6 years, 40.6 points behind SPY at 95.4%.

Simplify Managed Futures Strategy ETF is an actively managed fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation by systematically investing in futures contracts across equities, U.S. Treasuries, commodities, and foreign exchange using trend-following strategies, with up to 25% of assets potentially held through a Cayman Islands subsidiary for commodity exposure. The fund distributes monthly and carries an expense ratio of 0.75%, offering a current distribution rate in the mid-single-digit range. It appeals to investors seeking alternative strategies with systematic, trend-based positioning across multiple asset classes.

CTA performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 54.8% over the past 4.6 years, 40.6 points behind SPY at 95.4%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 8.9%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 20.8%.

CTA key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

71 · Generally safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

3.67%

Issuer

Simplify ETFs

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Alternatives

Inception date

03/07/2022

Expense ratio

0.75%

Distribution rate

5.17%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

5.04%

Last close

$30.15 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$1,349,236,754

Average volume

316242.0

Dividend

$0.13

Ex-dividend date

09/25/2026

Payment date

09/30/2026

Beta

-0.11

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (5.17%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (5.04%) is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: Simplify ETFs; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

CTA risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 20.8%.

Who may consider CTA — and who may not

CTA may suit someone looking for moderate current income with a quality tilt. It is a weaker fit for investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on CTA

• All tickers starting with C

Tagged: Futures, Active.

Frequently asked questions

More securities from Simplify ETFs.