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Security Comparison

MA vs MAAY: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Mastercard Inc. and GraniteShares YieldBOOST MARA ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Updated September 30, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • MAInvestors who want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
  • MAAYInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 97.29%, generated by selling options premium.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

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.

MA has outpaced MAAY over the year to date, posting a -1.59% total return against -25.32%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD cumulativeSince Nov 2025Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
MA-1.59%0.26%22.9%-0.18-0.26-18.5%
MAAY-25.32%-43.37%26.9%-2.53-3.09-45.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 30, 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 Nov 2025” measures every fund from November 4, 2025 — 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 Nov 2025. 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 Nov 2025) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Distribution rate and SEC yield

MetricMAMAAY
Forward distribution rate0.63%97.29%
Trailing 12-month yield0.61%229.63%
30-day SEC yield—0.72%

Total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is the Total returns section above. A 30-day SEC yield can sit far from the headline distribution rate; both numbers are the fund's own published fields.

Total return against the stated underlying is on MAAY vs MARA.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricMAMAAY
Full nameMastercard Inc.GraniteShares YieldBOOST MARA ETF
Issuer—GraniteShares
Last Close$551.47 as of September 30, 2026$4.85 as of September 30, 2026
Distribution rate0.63%97.29%
Trailing 12-month yield0.61%229.63%
30-day SEC yield—0.72%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10049
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.63%47.67%
Expense ratio—1.07%
AUM—$4.67M
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyWeekly
Underlying index—MARA Holdings (MARA)
Objective—Seeks to provide weekly income through selling near-the-money put spreads on leveraged ETFs linked to MARA Holdings, with built-in risk control through the put spread collar structure.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception dateN/A11/04/2025
Beta0.7351.0231
Last dividend$0.87$0.09074
Ex-dividend date07/09/202609/25/2026

Bottom lineChoose MA if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee. Choose MAAY if you want to maximize current income — roughly 97.29%, generated by selling options premium. There's no free lunch: MAAY's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while MA keeps full price exposure.

How the risk works

Read this before the income numbers below: the strategy mechanics on this page shape what those payouts can cost you.

  • Daily leverage reset. MAAY targets a multiple of the index's DAILY move, resetting every session. Over weeks and months the compounding of daily resets (volatility decay) can drag returns far below the stated multiple, especially in choppy markets — and losses are magnified the same way gains are.
  • Capped upside and premium dependence. MAAY 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 · Why daily-reset leverage decays

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each security at current yields.

GraniteShares
ETFs93
Total AUM$11.8B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

GraniteShares is known for offering specialized ETF strategies that extend beyond traditional equity and bond investing, particularly through structured products and income-focused solutions. The firm manages 48 ETFs organized around distinct fund families including Autocallable products, Commodities, Income strategies, Leveraged exposures, and their YieldBOOST line designed to enhance distributions. GraniteShares targets investors seeking alternative income generation methods and commodity access, with popular tickers like AHD, CRY, and FBL representing their diverse approach to yield enhancement and alternative asset classes.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on MAAY.

See all GraniteShares ETFs

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Quick verdict

MA (Mastercard Inc.) is a stock, while MAAY (GraniteShares YieldBOOST MARA ETF) is an ETF — their trading structures differ.

MAAY offers the higher yield at 97.29% vs 0.63% for MA. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

Who should choose each?

Choose MA

Mastercard Inc.

  • Want direct stock ownership — full upside and dividend growth potential, no fund wrapper or expense ratio.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.7 vs 1.0 for MAAY.

Choose MAAY

GraniteShares YieldBOOST MARA ETF

  • Want to maximize current income — MAAY distributes roughly 97.29% from selling options premium, vs 0.63% for MA.
  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, MA would generate roughly $15.75 cash per distribution, while MAAY would produce $187.10 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.

MA yield0.63%
MAAY yield97.29%
Cash diff on $10K$171.35

Cost & efficiency

MAAY charges a 1.07% expense ratio — roughly $1,070 over 10 years on $10,000 (simplified, not compounded). MA is a stock, not a fund, so it charges no expense ratio.

MAAY ER1.07%

Strategy & risk

MA is a stock built around financials exposure, while MAAY tracks MARA Holdings (MARA) with a crypto approach. Beta is 0.735 for MA and 1.0231 for MAAY, making MA the less volatile of the two by this measure.

MA beta0.735
MAAY beta1.0231

Security details

MA (Mastercard Inc.) is a stock. MAAY is managed by GraniteShares (launched 11/04/2025) with $4.67M in assets.

MAAY AUM$4.67M
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for MA and MAAY?

MA currently distributes 0.63% and MAAY 97.29%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is MA or MAAY better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. MAAY currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. 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 MA and MAAY?

MA (Mastercard Inc.) is a stock built around financials exposure, while MAAY (GraniteShares YieldBOOST MARA ETF) tracks MARA Holdings (MARA) with a crypto approach. They are issued by — and GraniteShares respectively.

Can I hold both MA and MAAY?

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 MA or MAAY safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — MA scores 100, MAAY scores 49, so MA's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. MA has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.73 vs 1.02 for MAAY). 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, MA or MAAY?

MAAY charges a 1.07% expense ratio. MA is a stock, not a fund, so it has no expense ratio — owning it directly costs nothing in ongoing fund fees.

How much income does $10,000 in MA vs MAAY generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in MA would generate roughly $15.75 cash per distribution ($63.00 annually). The same in MAAY would produce about $187.10 cash per distribution ($9,729.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, MA or MAAY?

MA has outpaced MAAY over the year to date, posting a -1.59% total return against -25.32%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

MA vs MAAY — at a glance

Generated September 26, 2026.

Overview

MA is a large-cap payments processor stock trading at $551.47. MAAY is a newly launched ETF that sells weekly put spreads on a leveraged crypto-linked ETF (MARA), collecting premium income with built-in downside collars. They occupy entirely different risk and return universes: MA offers stable business exposure with a modest 0.63% dividend; MAAY targets yield-focused traders willing to accept synthetic-income mechanics and crypto leverage for a 97.29% distribution rate. MA has a 0.735 beta, suggesting lower volatility than the broad market. MAAY carries a 1.0231 beta and is structured to generate income through derivative mechanics on leveraged crypto holdings, not business earnings.

Distribution profiles are starkly different. MA pays 0.63% quarterly from earnings and retained capital. MAAY distributes 97.29% weekly, generated by selling put spreads with a collar structure designed to limit losses.

AUM tells another story. MA is a $551.47-per-share established company with no AUM metric (it's a stock, not a fund). MAAY holds just $4.67M in assets under management, launched 10 months ago, making it an extremely new and small fund. The difference in scale and track record is substantial.

Who each is best for

MA: Investors seeking exposure to global payments infrastructure with a low, stable dividend yield and equity price appreciation upside. Fits portfolios building on established financial services businesses.

MAAY: Traders focused on extracting weekly income from options strategies and comfortable with leverage, derivative risk, and crypto-linked volatility. Designed for holders with a short time horizon and active management orientation.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at extreme yields. MAAY's 97.29% annualized distribution rate far exceeds typical underlying crypto asset returns, making NAV erosion likely over time unless the fund consistently captures premium that covers both the options overlay, expense ratio, and distributions. Early track record (10 months old) is too short to confirm sustainability.
  • Leverage and crypto volatility amplification. MAAY's underlying exposure is a leveraged ETF on MARA Holdings (a crypto-linked vehicle), and the fund itself carries a 1.0231 beta. Losses in crypto can be magnified by the leverage structure, compounding downside risk during market dislocations.
  • Put spread collar mechanics. MAAY's strategy involves selling near-the-money puts and buying out-of-the-money puts as downside collars. If volatility spikes or the underlying tumbles, the collar cap on gains may limit recovery, and assignment risk on the sold puts could force position management decisions.
  • Extreme fund youth and size. MAAY is 10 months old with only $4.67M in assets.
  • MA currency and transaction-volume sensitivity. MA's earnings depend on global cross-border payment volumes and currency exchange rates, creating macroeconomic and geopolitical exposure that affects stock price and dividend sustainability.

Bottom line

If you want established business exposure with low, steady income, MA fits a traditional dividend portfolio. If you're chasing weekly income through options strategies and comfortable with crypto leverage, synthetic income, and high NAV-erosion risk, MAAY's mechanics are designed for that trade-off. Neither past performance nor the extreme newness of MAAY should be treated as predictive of future outcomes.

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.

How covered-call funds work How to read a fund's stats The covered-call opportunity cost

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.