Best Of
Best High-Yield Dividend ETFs in 2026
The ETFs with the highest distribution rates — where a bigger payout often means more risk, not more return.
Data updated July 2026 · 50 ETFs
Who this page is for
Best for
- Income-focused investors seeking maximum current cash flow
- Portfolios where distributions are spent rather than reinvested
- Investors willing to actively monitor distribution sustainability and NAV trends
Not a fit for
- Conservative long-term investors — many high-yield ETFs have unsustainable distributions
- Investors who need capital appreciation alongside income
- Anyone unwilling to research return-of-capital mechanics and 19a notices
Analysis
High-yield dividend ETFs attract investors seeking maximum current income, but the highest yields often come with the highest risks. Many funds on this list use leveraged strategies, options overlays, or invest in volatile single-stock derivatives to generate outsized distributions. Before chasing yield, consider the total return picture: a fund yielding 80% that loses 40% of its NAV annually is destroying wealth, not creating it. The best high-yield ETFs balance attractive income with reasonable capital preservation. Look for funds with growing or stable AUM, manageable expense ratios, and distribution rates supported by actual portfolio income rather than return of capital. For a version of this search that starts from quality screens instead of the biggest number — yields capped at 15%, expense ratios of 0.75% or less, and no leveraged or single-stock funds — see the best high dividend ETFs list.
A high yield is only half the story
A large distribution is only part of the picture. Dividend Vision helps you see where the income really comes from — and what may be happening to your principal — so a headline yield doesn't stand in for a plan.
- Income forecasting — know what your holdings pay monthly, quarterly, and yearly
- Yield vs. total return — weigh each distribution against price performance, not the headline rate
- Screen & compare — line up any income ETFs side by side on yield, cost, and strategy
- Portfolio risk — see income concentration, issuer overlap, and volatility across your holdings
- AI ETF comparison — ask plain-language questions to compare yield, risk, and income potential
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Highest distribution rates
The three funds reporting the highest distribution rates on this list.
These are the highest reported rates on the list, not recommendations. A distribution this large is often funded by leverage, options premium, or return of capital, and can accompany a falling share price — so the headline rate rarely equals the total return.
Yield distribution
Expense ratio distribution
Income projection
Estimated income if the current average distribution rate of 95.72% held for a full year with share prices unchanged. Distribution rate is not total return—a fund can pay a large distribution while its share price falls—so treat these as an upper-bound illustration, not a forecast.
| Investment | Annual income | Monthly income | Weekly income |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $9,572 | $798 | $184 |
| $25,000 | $23,929 | $1,994 | $460 |
| $50,000 | $47,858 | $3,988 | $920 |
| $100,000 | $95,717 | $7,976 | $1,841 |
Distribution yield vs. total return
A high distribution rate is not the same as a high return. Your actual result is total return — the distributions you receive plus the change in the fund's share price. A fund can pay a large distribution while its price falls, and part of a distribution can be return of capital: your own money paid back to you, which lowers your cost basis rather than adding new profit. So a headline rate near 100% paired with a steep price decline can still leave a position underwater, which is why income is most meaningful read next to price performance rather than on its own.
Issuer breakdown
Distribution of ETFs by fund issuer. Larger issuers often offer lower expense ratios and higher liquidity.
How this list is built
This list is intentionally unfiltered — it shows the very top of the yield spectrum:
- Every active ETF with a trailing distribution rate of 8% or higher qualifies, including single-stock option, leveraged-strategy, and fund-of-funds products
- Funds are ranked by distribution rate, highest first — not by size, cost, or total return
- Liquidated funds are excluded, but no other quality screens are applied — which is why the yield-versus-total-return context on this page matters more than anywhere else on the site
All 50 ETFs
| Ticker | Name | Issuer | Yield | Expense ratio | AUM | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TESL | Simplify Volt TSLA Revolution ETF | Simplify ETFs | 186.93% | 0.97% | $18M | Quarterly |
| ARMW | Roundhill ARM WeeklyPay ETF | Roundhill Investments | 137.73% | 1.00% | $23M | Weekly |
| RIOX | Defiance Daily Target 2X Long RIOT ETF | Defiance ETFs | 132.72% | 0.95% | $15M | Annual |
| CRWG | Leverage Shares 2X Long CRWV Daily ETF | Leverage Shares | 123.15% | 0.77% | $167M | Annual |
| MRNY | YieldMax MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 118.77% | 0.99% | $114M | Weekly |
| RDYY | YieldMax RDDT Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 117.12% | 1.01% | $15M | Weekly |
| HOOY | Tidal Trust II YieldMax HOOD Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 116.21% | 0.99% | $140M | Weekly |
| KPDD | KraneShares 2x Long PDD Daily ETF | KraneShares | 115.42% | 1.27% | $25M | Annual |
| SAEF | Schwab Ariel Opportunities ETF | Schwab | 114.81% | 0.59% | $19M | Quarterly |
| APPX | Tradr 2X Long APP Daily ETF | Tradr | 113.96% | 1.30% | $129M | Annual |
| HIYY | YieldMax HIMS Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 113.06% | 1.01% | $11M | Weekly |
| RBLY | YieldMax RBLX Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 110.03% | 0.99% | $3M | Weekly |
| AMDW | Roundhill AMD WeeklyPay ETF | Roundhill Investments | 110.02% | 1.00% | $107M | Weekly |
| WNTR | YieldMax Short MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 106.60% | 1.00% | $77M | Weekly |
| RGYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST RGYY ETF | GraniteShares | 105.38% | 1.07% | $3M | Weekly |
| QBY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST QBY ETF | GraniteShares | 104.74% | 1.07% | $3M | Weekly |
| INYY | YieldMax INTC Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 100.96% | 0.99% | $6M | Weekly |
| IOYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST IONQ ETF | GraniteShares | 99.79% | 1.07% | $6M | Weekly |
| SEMY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST Semiconductor ETF | GraniteShares | 98.06% | 1.07% | $81M | Weekly |
| SMCY | YieldMax SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 97.10% | 1.01% | $105M | Weekly |
| MAAY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST MA ETF | GraniteShares | 95.88% | 1.07% | $3M | Weekly |
| RTYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST RIOT ETF | GraniteShares | 95.34% | 1.07% | $3M | Weekly |
| CRY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST CRCL ETF | GraniteShares | 94.68% | 1.07% | $1M | Weekly |
| RGTU | Tradr 2X Long RGTI Daily ETF | Tradr | 94.41% | 1.30% | $15M | Annual |
| SMYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST SMCI ETF | GraniteShares | 94.40% | 1.07% | $8M | Weekly |
| MARO | YieldMax MARA Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 91.26% | 1.00% | $79M | Weekly |
| MUYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST MU ETF | GraniteShares | 89.51% | 1.07% | $17M | Weekly |
| AMDY | YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 88.80% | 0.99% | $427M | Weekly |
| COIO | Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated COIN Monthly ETF | Leverage Shares | 85.68% | 0.77% | $136,244 | Annual |
| HMYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST HIMS ETF | GraniteShares | 83.71% | 1.07% | $720,788 | Weekly |
| AMYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST AMD ETF | GraniteShares | 83.31% | 1.07% | $9M | Weekly |
| SOUX | Defiance Daily Target 2X Long SOUN ETF | Defiance ETFs | 82.86% | 1.29% | $10M | Annual |
| CRCO | YieldMax CRCL Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 82.46% | 1.01% | $18M | Weekly |
| MSTY | YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 82.04% | 0.99% | $765M | Weekly |
| HOOX | Defiance Daily Target 2X Long HOOD ETF | Defiance ETFs | 81.76% | 1.29% | $15M | Annual |
| SNOY | YieldMax SNOW Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 81.23% | 0.99% | $47M | Weekly |
| BEGS | Rareview 2x Bull Cryptocurrency & Precious Metals ETF | Rareview Capital | 80.59% | 0.99% | $3M | Annual |
| CWY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST CRWV ETF | GraniteShares | 80.41% | 1.07% | $705,355 | Weekly |
| HOOW | Roundhill HOOD WeeklyPay ETF | Roundhill Investments | 80.10% | 0.99% | $135M | Weekly |
| AIYY | YieldMax AI Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 79.22% | 0.99% | $33M | Weekly |
| CVNY | YieldMax CVNA Option Income Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 79.04% | 1.09% | $19M | Weekly |
| AVGW | Roundhill AVGO WeeklyPay ETF | Roundhill Investments | 77.15% | 1.00% | $45M | Weekly |
| COYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST COIN ETF | GraniteShares | 77.03% | 1.07% | $19M | Weekly |
| HOYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST HOOD ETF | GraniteShares | 76.56% | 1.07% | $7M | Weekly |
| ULTI | REX IncomeMax Option Strategy ETF | REX Shares | 74.91% | 1.32% | $29M | Weekly |
| FBY | YieldMax META Option Income ETF | YieldMax | 73.19% | 0.99% | $99M | Weekly |
| MSTW | Roundhill MSTR WeeklyPay ETF | Roundhill Investments | 71.15% | 1.00% | $35M | Weekly |
| BITI | ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF | ProShares | 70.08% | 1.33% | $118M | Monthly |
| ZVOL | Volatility Premium Plus ETF Volatility Shares ZVOL ETF | Volatility Shares | 69.78% | 1.45% | $14M | Monthly Monthly |
| METW | Roundhill META WeeklyPay ETF | Roundhill Investments | 66.74% | 1.00% | $28M | Weekly |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best high-yield dividend ETFs?
This page lists the top 50 ETFs in this category ranked by key metrics. The list includes funds from issuers like Simplify ETFs, Roundhill Investments, Defiance ETFs, Leverage Shares, YieldMax and more.
How often is this list updated?
The data on this page is refreshed regularly using the latest available distribution rates, expense ratios, and AUM figures. Last updated July 2026.
What is the average yield of these ETFs?
The average distribution yield across the 50 ETFs on this list is 95.72%. Individual yields range from 66.74% to 186.93%.
Are high-yield ETFs risky?
Generally, yes. Yields above 10-15% typically involve strategies with elevated risk: leveraged positions, options on volatile single stocks, or lower-credit fixed income. The higher the yield, the more important it is to understand how that income is generated.
What is return of capital (ROC)?
ROC means the fund is returning your own invested money back to you as a "distribution." While it's tax-deferred, it reduces your cost basis and can erode your investment over time. Check a fund's 19a notices to see how much of each distribution is ROC.
How do I evaluate whether a high yield is sustainable?
Compare the distribution rate against the fund's actual portfolio income (SEC yield or earnings yield). If the distribution far exceeds what the underlying assets generate, the fund may be paying out principal. Also watch NAV trends—a steadily declining NAV is a red flag.
Is a high-yield ETF the same as a high-yield bond ETF?
No. In bond-market language, "high yield" means junk bonds—corporate debt rated below investment grade, held by funds like HYG and JNK. The ETFs on this page are mostly equity and options-based strategies with high distribution rates instead. Bond funds across every credit quality, including high-yield bonds, are grouped in our bond ETF screener.
Explore more
Two common next stops: high-yield bond ETFs — junk-bond funds like HYG and JNK — live in the bond ETF screener, while the high dividend list applies quality screens (yields capped at 15%, expense ratios of 0.75% or less, no single-stock funds) for steadier income from established funds.
Learn the method
The metrics and risks behind this list, explained in the Academy.
Put this list to work in your portfolio
Import or build a portfolio to see income forecasts, upcoming distributions, income concentration, and risk across everything you own — and where a fund's yield and total return diverge.
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