A head-to-head comparison of YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF and YieldMax PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
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YieldMax is known for specializing in options-based and income-focused ETFs that emphasize yield generation through covered call strategies and other income-producing methodologies. The firm operates a diverse lineup of 63 funds organized across multiple families including covered call strategies, 0DTE (zero days to expiration) options, double distribution approaches, and various target-date and performance-based portfolios designed to generate regular distributions. Notable offerings span popular underlying assets like major technology stocks and broad market indices, with a particular emphasis on providing enhanced income solutions for investors seeking regular cash flows through options strategies and other tactical approaches.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on MSTY and PLTY.
Bottom lineChoose MSTY if you want to maximize current income — roughly 83.49%, generated by selling options premium. Choose PLTY if you are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout. There's no free lunch: MSTY's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while PLTY keeps full price exposure.
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
MSTY has lagged PLTY over the trailing twelve months, posting a -73.50% total return against -13.20%. Measured from Oct 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — PLTY has compounded at 49.29% a year versus -33.25% for MSTY. PLTY has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 43.6% against 64.6% for MSTY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 10, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Oct 2024” measures every fund from October 8, 2024 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the past year. 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 past year) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
MSTY (YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF) and PLTY (YieldMax PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF) are both weekly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
MSTY offers the higher yield at 83.49% vs 47.74% for PLTY. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
MSTY is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.99% compared to 1.07%.
They track different benchmarks: MSTY is linked to Strategy (MSTR) while PLTY tracks Palantir (PLTR), which means their performance drivers differ.
MSTY is the larger fund by assets ($1.01B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, MSTY would generate roughly $695.75/month, while PLTY would produce $397.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay weekly distributions.
MSTY yield83.49%
PLTY yield47.74%
Monthly diff on $10K$297.92
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, MSTY would cost approximately $990 in fees vs $1,070 for PLTY (simplified, not compounded). The $80.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
MSTY ER0.99%
PLTY ER1.07%
Strategy & risk
MSTY tracks Strategy (MSTR) with a covered call approach, while PLTY tracks Palantir (PLTR) with a covered call approach.
MSTY beta2.5604
PLTY beta—
Fund details
MSTY is managed by YieldMax (launched 02/21/2024) with $1.01B in assets. PLTY is managed by YieldMax (launched 08/03/2023) with $324M in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is MSTY or PLTY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. MSTY 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 MSTY and PLTY?
MSTY (YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF) tracks Strategy (MSTR) with a covered call approach, while PLTY (YieldMax PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF) tracks Palantir (PLTR) with a covered call approach. They are issued by YieldMax and YieldMax respectively.
Can I hold both MSTY and PLTY?
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.
Which has lower fees, MSTY or PLTY?
MSTY has an expense ratio of 0.99% while PLTY charges 1.07%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in MSTY vs PLTY generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in MSTY would generate roughly $695.75 per month ($8,349.00 annually). The same in PLTY would produce about $397.83 per month ($4,774.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, MSTY or PLTY?
MSTY has lagged PLTY over the trailing twelve months, posting a -73.50% total return against -13.20%. Measured from Oct 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — PLTY has compounded at 49.29% a year versus -33.25% for MSTY. PLTY has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 43.6% against 64.6% for MSTY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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