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ETF Comparison

MSTY vs YMAG: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF and Tidal Trust II - YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 13, 2026

Best for

  • MSTYInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 76.67%, generated by selling options premium.
  • YMAGInvestors who are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricMSTYYMAG
Full nameYieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETFTidal Trust II - YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs
IssuerYieldMaxYieldMax
Last Close$12.27 as of August 13, 2026$11.29 as of August 13, 2026
Distribution yield76.67%51.59%
Distribution Safety Score™ 2472
Expense ratio0.99%1.28%
AUM$753M$291M
Distribution frequencyWeeklyWeekly
Underlying indexStrategy (MSTR)Basket (Magnificent 7 Stocks)
ObjectiveActively 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.Fund of funds that seeks weekly income by investing nearly all of its assets in seven underlying YieldMax option income ETFs tied to the Magnificent 7 stocks.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date02/21/202401/29/2024
Beta2.56041.1624
Last dividend$0.1809$0.1120
Ex-dividend date08/13/202608/12/2026

Bottom lineChoose MSTY if you want to maximize current income — roughly 76.67%, generated by selling options premium. Choose YMAG 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 YMAG 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.

  • Capped upside and premium dependence. MSTY and YMAG generate 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

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Income calculator

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

YieldMax
ETFs59
Total AUM$9.16B

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 and YMAG.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

MSTY has lagged YMAG over the trailing twelve months, posting a -70.63% total return against 12.17%. Measured from Feb 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — YMAG has compounded at 19.43% a year versus 6.09% for MSTY. YMAG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 18.3% against 64.4% 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.
SymbolYTD1YSince Feb 2024Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
MSTY-34.68%-70.63%6.09%64.4%-1.97-2.57-74.9%
YMAG2.45%12.17%19.43%18.3%0.380.52-14.4%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 12, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Feb 2024” measures every fund from February 22, 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 YMAG (Tidal Trust II - YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs) are both weekly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

MSTY offers the higher yield at 76.67% vs 51.59% for YMAG. 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 1.28%.

They track different benchmarks: MSTY is linked to Strategy (MSTR) while YMAG tracks Basket (Magnificent 7 Stocks), which means their performance drivers differ.

MSTY is the larger fund by assets ($753M), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose MSTY

YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF

  • Want to maximize current income — MSTY distributes roughly 76.67% from selling options premium, vs 51.59% for YMAG.
  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.99% expense ratio vs 1.28% for YMAG.

Choose YMAG

Tidal Trust II - YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs

  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.2 vs 2.6 for MSTY.

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, MSTY would generate roughly $638.92/month, while YMAG would produce $429.92/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay weekly distributions.

MSTY yield76.67%
YMAG yield51.59%
Monthly diff on $10K$209.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, MSTY would cost approximately $990 in fees vs $1,280 for YMAG (simplified, not compounded). The $290.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

MSTY ER0.99%
YMAG ER1.28%

Strategy & risk

MSTY is actively managed around Strategy (MSTR) exposure with a crypto approach, while YMAG tracks Basket (Magnificent 7 Stocks) with a covered call approach. Beta is 2.5604 for MSTY and 1.1624 for YMAG, indicating YMAG is less volatile relative to the market.

MSTY beta2.5604
YMAG beta1.1624

Fund details

MSTY is managed by YieldMax (launched 02/21/2024) with $753M in assets. YMAG is managed by YieldMax (launched 01/29/2024) with $291M in assets.

MSTY AUM$753M
YMAG AUM$291M
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for MSTY and YMAG?

MSTY currently distributes 76.67% and YMAG 51.59%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is MSTY or YMAG 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 YMAG?

MSTY (YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF) is actively managed around Strategy (MSTR) exposure with a crypto approach, while YMAG (Tidal Trust II - YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs) tracks Basket (Magnificent 7 Stocks) with a covered call approach. They are issued by YieldMax and YieldMax respectively.

Can I hold both MSTY and YMAG?

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 MSTY or YMAG safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — YMAG scores 72, MSTY scores 24, so YMAG's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. YMAG has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.16 vs 2.56 for MSTY). 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, MSTY or YMAG?

MSTY has an expense ratio of 0.99% while YMAG charges 1.28%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in MSTY vs YMAG generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in MSTY would generate roughly $638.92 per month ($7,667.00 annually). The same in YMAG would produce about $429.92 per month ($5,159.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, MSTY or YMAG?

MSTY has lagged YMAG over the trailing twelve months, posting a -70.63% total return against 12.17%. Measured from Feb 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — YMAG has compounded at 19.43% a year versus 6.09% for MSTY. YMAG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 18.3% against 64.4% for MSTY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

MSTY vs YMAG — at a glance

Generated August 8, 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

MSTY and YMAG are both weekly-distribution ETFs using covered call overlays to generate income, but they differ fundamentally in underlying exposure. MSTY is a single-stock options strategy tracking MicroStrategy (MSTR), a volatile software and cryptocurrency-exposure company. YMAG is a fund of funds holding seven underlying YieldMax option income ETFs, each written on one of the Magnificent 7 mega-cap stocks (Apple, Nvidia, Tesla, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta).

How they differ

The biggest difference is concentration versus diversification. MSTY's entire portfolio is synthetic exposure to MSTR alone—a single $176 billion-cap company heavily exposed to Bitcoin holdings. YMAG spreads option income across seven mega-cap technology and consumer stocks through a wrapper of underlying funds, reducing single-name volatility risk.

Second is yield and income mechanics. MSTY offers a 84.37% distribution rate—roughly triple YMAG's 43.11%—because MSTR's volatility and smaller market cap create more valuable covered-call premiums. YMAG's lower yield reflects the larger, steadier price movements of the Magnificent 7. Both pay weekly, but MSTY's higher payout comes with steeper NAV-erosion risk.

Third is risk profile. MSTY carries a beta of 2.5604, meaning it swings 2.5 times harder than the broad market. YMAG's beta is 1.1624, tracking closer to large-cap equity volatility. YMAG's expense ratio is 0.28 percentage points higher at 1.28% versus 0.99%, reflecting the fund-of-funds wrapper.

Who each is best for

  • MSTY: Fits investors with high volatility tolerance and a tactical income horizon, who want concentrated exposure to MicroStrategy's Bitcoin-linked upside and accept weekly principal erosion as the cost of outsized option premiums.
  • YMAG: Fits investors seeking diversified large-cap tech and consumer income who prefer lower volatility and broader economic exposure across the Magnificent 7, and accept a more modest yield in exchange for portfolio stability.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at extreme yield levels. MSTY's 84.37% distribution rate is unsustainable relative to underlying MSTR total returns over a multi-year horizon; investors are highly likely to see principal decline even in flat or modestly rising markets. YMAG's 43.11% yield carries similar but less acute erosion risk.
  • Single-name concentration and leverage. MSTY's entire return depends on MSTR, which has Bitcoin holdings that fluctuate based on crypto markets independent of equity fundamentals. A sharp crypto downturn or MicroStrategy strategic pivot could depress the stock materially. YMAG's diversification across seven stocks materially lowers single-company disaster risk.
  • Covered call cap risk. Both funds limit upside when the underlying stocks rally sharply. A major tech rally could see MSTY and YMAG capped at strikes while the underlying assets appreciate uncapped; this is the structural cost of the income strategy.
  • Fund-of-funds structural costs. YMAG holds seven other YieldMax ETFs, adding a layer of fees and operational complexity; tracking error relative to a direct Magnificent 7 portfolio or equivalent index fund is built in.
  • Short-duration derivative roll risk. Weekly distributions require weekly option rolls. If implied volatility collapses or covered-call strikes move higher, the next week's premiums and payouts may compress unexpectedly, particularly for MSTY given MSTR's volatility swings.

Bottom line

MSTY pursues extreme income from a single, volatile software-and-crypto name, accepting both principal decay and concentration risk for outsized premiums. YMAG trades yield for breadth, spreading option income across the market's largest technology and consumer companies at a lower payout rate and lower volatility. If your goal is maximum income and you accept sharp principal fluctuations, MSTY delivers; if you want tech-heavy option income with diversification and lower volatility, YMAG's design aligns better with that goal. Past performance does not predict future results, and option-overlay funds' ability to sustain their distributions depends on market conditions and implied volatility regimes that are subject to rapid change.

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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