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.
MSTY has lagged STRC over the trailing twelve months, posting a -49.43% total return against 13.84%. Measured from Jul 2025 — the start of shared available history — STRC has compounded at 16.67% a year versus -51.46% for MSTY. STRC has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 22.1% against 69.5% for MSTY. 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.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Jul 2025” measures every fund from July 30, 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 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.
Side-by-side snapshot
Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric;
each column is one fund.
Actively managed fund that seeks current income while maintaining indirect exposure to the share price of MicroStrategy Incorporated (MSTR), subject to a limit on potential investment gains.
Stretch (STRC) is Strategy’s perpetual preferred stock that pays a variable cash dividend twice a month (semi-monthly) — most recently $0.50 per share per payment, an annualized rate of about 12% on its $100 par value. STRC’s dividend rate is reset each month to encourage trading around STRC’s $100 par value and to help strip away price volatility.
Bottom lineChoose MSTY if you want MSTR-linked option income and accept substantial capital risk. Choose STRC if you want preferred-stock exposure and accept issuer risk with no maturity date. Neither investment guarantees income or principal. MSTY's distribution is not STRC's preferred dividend, and STRC's price-stabilization objective does not provide deposit insurance or protection from issuer distress.
An MSTR option-income fund versus Strategy preferred stock
MSTY uses an option-income strategy tied to Strategy's MSTR common stock, including call spreads. STRC is Strategy's variable-rate perpetual preferred stock. STRC ranks ahead of common stock and behind debt; its rate-adjustment framework does not guarantee a $100 trading price or repayment.
MSTY
STRC
Approach
MSTR-linked option-income ETF
Variable-rate perpetual preferred stock
Risk review
Single-company and bitcoin-linked equity risk plus derivatives
Issuer credit, subordination to debt, variable dividends, and price risk
Expense ratio
1.03%
—
Portfolio fit
Review combined holdings and weights
Review combined holdings and weights
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. MSTY 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.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
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.
MSTY (YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF) is an ETF, while STRC (Strategy Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock) is a preferred stock — their trading structures differ.
MSTY offers the higher yield at 75.73% vs 13.39% for STRC. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
They have different reference exposures: MSTY is linked to Strategy (MSTR) while STRC is linked to Preferred equity security issued by MicroStrategy Incorporated., which means their performance drivers differ.
Still deciding? Track MSTY & STRC for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment, MSTY would generate roughly $631.08/month, while STRC would produce $111.58/month, at current distribution rates.
MSTY yield75.73%
STRC yield13.39%
Monthly diff on $10K$519.50
Cost & efficiency
MSTY charges a 1.03% expense ratio — roughly $1,030 over 10 years on $10,000 (simplified, not compounded). STRC is a preferred stock, not a fund, so it charges no expense ratio.
MSTY ER1.03%
Strategy & risk
MSTY uses an option-income strategy tied to Strategy's MSTR common stock, including call spreads. STRC is Strategy's variable-rate perpetual preferred stock. STRC ranks ahead of common stock and behind debt; its rate-adjustment framework does not guarantee a $100 trading price or repayment. Beta describes historical benchmark sensitivity, not guaranteed downside protection.
MSTY beta2.5604
STRC beta—
Security details
MSTY is managed by YieldMax (launched 02/21/2024) with $959M in assets. STRC (Strategy Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock) is a preferred stock.
Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend investments.
Frequently asked questions
Does STRC rank below MSTR common stock in a liquidation?
No. STRC ranks senior to common stock, while remaining junior to debt and any preferred securities with priority under its terms. Priority is not a recovery guarantee. STRC is perpetual, and its stated amount is not a promise that you can sell or redeem shares for $100 whenever you choose.
What is the difference between MSTY and STRC?
MSTY (YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF) writes options on MSTR. STRC (Strategy Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock) is Stretch preferred stock of Strategy. One is a single-stock option ETF; the other is a preferred. Cost is 1.03% versus —. Distributions are 75.73% and 13.39% as of September 2026. Wrapper, not a headline yield, is the comparison.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio
See how each security fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.
