ACEI
Generally safe
Limited data
ETF Comparison
ACEI vs VAIE: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF and VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Updated November 5, 2026
No track record yet. VAIE launched within the last six months.
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Price and total return
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Distribution Safety Score
An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.
VAIE
Unproven
Low confidence
Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  ACEI |  VAIE |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF | VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF |
| Issuer | Innovator ETFs | VegaShares |
| Last Close | $22.77 as of November 5, 2026 | $21.60 as of November 5, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 14.32% | 17.09% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 13.38% | 8.85% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 77 | 50 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 11.03% | — |
| Expense ratio | 0.79% | 0.74% |
| AUM | $52.7M | $68.4M |
| Distribution frequency | Monthly | Weekly |
| Underlying index | — | NYSE U.S. 500 Adaptive Vol Autocallable Index |
| Objective | — | Seeks weekly income by tracking a laddered autocallable index built on U.S. large-cap equities, using a full replication approach. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | 09/24/2025 | 05/12/2026 |
| Beta | 0.4834 | — |
| Last dividend | $0.27185 | $0.071 declared, pays 11/06/2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | 10/30/2026 | 11/05/2026 |
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
ACEI has outpaced VAIE over the year to date, posting a 2.83% total return against -6.94%. ACEI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.1% against 21.3% for VAIE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | Since May 2026 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACEI | 2.83% | -0.02% | 13.1% | -0.32 | -0.44 | -9.3% |
| VAIE | -6.94% | -6.94% | 21.3% | -0.89 | -1.05 | -12.1% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of November 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since May 2026” measures every fund from May 12, 2026 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the shared window since May 2026. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the shared window since May 2026) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Bottom lineWe won't call this one: VAIE launched May 2026, so there is not yet a track record to compare. Compare the strategy, cost and holdings in the sections above and treat any performance figures for the newer ETF as provisional.
How the risk works
Read this before the income numbers below: the strategy mechanics on this page shape what those payouts can cost you.
- Capped upside and premium dependence. VAIE generates income by selling options, which trades away part of a strong rally in exchange for premium. Distributions can include return of capital, and a payout the underlying assets cannot sustain shows up as NAV erosion over time — the big yield number is not free.
Learn the mechanics: Return of capital, explained · NAV erosion, explained
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
ETFs180
Total AUM$38.5B
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Innovator ETFs specializes in structured outcome and income-focused exchange-traded funds, with a particular emphasis on buffer strategies and defined protection approaches designed to manage downside risk. This niche positioning targets investors seeking alternative strategies beyond traditional buy-and-hold approaches, with an emphasis on principal protection and income generation mechanisms.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ACEI.
ETFs7
Total AUM$79.0M
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
VegaShares specializes in options-based and thematic ETFs designed to generate income and capitalize on emerging trends. The issuer's lineup spans income-focused strategies, including covered call funds, alongside thematic offerings that target specific market segments and innovation themes. VegaShares serves investors seeking alternative approaches to traditional equity exposure, with a concentrated portfolio of strategically named funds addressing both income generation and sector-specific growth opportunities.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VAIE.
Quick verdict
ACEI (Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF) and VAIE (VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
VAIE's latest distribution annualizes to 17.09%, but it has paid 8.85% over the trailing 12 months (it has not paid for a full year yet). With VAIE's two yield figures this far apart, neither settles which fund pays more. Compare the distribution rate and trailing 12-month yield rows in the snapshot below.
VAIE is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.74% compared to 0.79%.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, ACEI would pay about $1,432.00 a year (about $119.33 per monthly distribution), while VAIE would pay about $1,709.00 a year (about $32.87 per weekly distribution).
ACEI yield14.32%
VAIE yield17.09%
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, ACEI would cost approximately $790 in fees vs $740 for VAIE (simplified, not compounded). The $50.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
ACEI ER0.79%
VAIE ER0.74%
Strategy & risk
ACEI is an ETF built around a structured products strategy, while VAIE tracks NYSE U.S. 500 Adaptive Vol Autocallable Index with an options approach.
ACEI beta0.4834
VAIE beta—
Fund details
ACEI is managed by Innovator ETFs (launched 09/24/2025) with $52.7M in assets. VAIE is managed by VegaShares (launched 05/12/2026) with $68.4M in assets.
ACEI AUM$52.7M
VAIE AUM$68.4M
Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for ACEI and VAIE?
ACEI currently distributes 14.32%; VAIE's latest distribution annualizes to 17.09%, and it has paid 8.85% over the past 12 months, based on fund data updated November 2026. Because the two measures disagree for at least one fund, compare both rows in the snapshot and check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is ACEI or VAIE better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VAIE's latest distribution annualizes to 17.09%, but it has paid 8.85% over the trailing 12 months (it has not paid for a full year yet). With VAIE's two yield figures this far apart, neither settles which fund pays more. Compare the distribution rate and trailing 12-month yield rows in the snapshot below. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between ACEI and VAIE?
ACEI (Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF) is an ETF built around a structured products strategy, while VAIE (VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF) tracks NYSE U.S. 500 Adaptive Vol Autocallable Index with an options approach. They are issued by Innovator ETFs and VegaShares respectively.
Can I hold both ACEI and VAIE?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is ACEI or VAIE safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — ACEI scores 77, VAIE scores 50, so ACEI's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee, and the leverage, options-income, or crypto caveats flagged on this page apply regardless of score.
Which has lower fees, ACEI or VAIE?
ACEI has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VAIE charges 0.74%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in ACEI vs VAIE generate?
At current distribution rates, $10,000 in ACEI would pay about $1,432.00 a year (about $119.33 per monthly distribution). $10,000 in VAIE would pay about $1,709.00 a year (about $32.87 per weekly distribution).
Which has performed better historically, ACEI or VAIE?
ACEI has outpaced VAIE over the year to date, posting a 2.83% total return against -6.94%. ACEI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.1% against 21.3% for VAIE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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ACEI vs VAIE — at a glance
Generated November 1, 2026.
Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.
Overview
ACEI and VAIE are both equity ETFs that generate income through autocallable structured products—derivatives that make periodic payments tied to US large-cap equity performance and reset automatically if triggered by market moves. The core distinction is payout frequency and the underlying autocallable architecture: ACEI's simpler approach versus VAIE's index-based laddering strategy. VAIE's 17.09% yield exceeds ACEI's 14.32% by 253 basis points. VAIE charges 0.74% in fees versus ACEI's 0.79%—a 0.05 percentage-point gap in ACEI's favor. VAIE holds a larger asset base at $68.4M compared to ACEI's $52.7M, suggesting somewhat more established investor adoption. The two funds launched months apart—ACEI in September 2025 and VAIE in May 2026—so both remain relatively new strategies in the market.
Who each is best for
- ACEI: Fits investors seeking a simpler autocallable wrapper with monthly distributions and a tighter expense ratio, who prefer less frequent payouts and may value lower turnover in the underlying structure.
- VAIE: Fits investors who want frequent (weekly) resets and higher income flow from autocallables, and who view the index-based laddering approach as an organized way to manage the timing and mechanics of autocallable expirations and resets.
Key risks to know
- Autocallable reset risk: Both funds tie payouts to whether embedded options expire in-the-money or reset. A sharp rally can trigger early termination of the autocallable position, locking in gains but closing off future income—and a sharp selloff could cause unfavorable resets, extending positions into hostile market environments.
- NAV erosion at high distribution yields: ACEI's 14.32% and VAIE's 17.09% yields are well above typical equity returns, raising the question of whether the underlying structured products can sustain these payouts or whether NAV may decline over time. At these payout rates, capital erosion is a structural concern worth monitoring.
- Derivative pricing and volatility dependency: Autocallables are sensitive to implied volatility and interest rates; sharp moves in either can compress payouts or alter reset mechanics. Both funds inherit whatever widening or tightening occurs in the markets where their underlying structured products trade. Both carry meaningful NAV erosion risk at their current distribution rates—a tradeoff inherent to structured-income products—and past performance does not predict future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.