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.
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.
Tidal Trust II - YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs
Issuer
YieldMax
YieldMax
Last Close
$12.83 as of July 13, 2026
$11.81 as of July 13, 2026
Distribution yield
83.49%
33.46%
Distribution Safety Score
24
67
Expense ratio
0.99%
1.28%
AUM
$1.01B
$310M
Distribution frequency
Weekly
Weekly
Underlying index
Strategy (MSTR)
Basket (Magnificent 7 Stocks)
Objective
Covered Call
Covered Call
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
02/21/2024
01/29/2024
Beta
2.5604
1.1624
Last dividend
$0.2060
$0.0760
Ex-dividend date
07/09/2026
07/08/2026
Bottom lineChoose MSTY if you want to maximize current income — roughly 83.49%, 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.
Most used
Income calculator
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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 -73.50% total return against 15.78%. Measured from Feb 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — YMAG has compounded at 18.78% a year versus 3.48% for MSTY. YMAG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 17.3% 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 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 83.49% vs 33.46% 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 ($1.01B), 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 83.49% from selling options premium, vs 33.46% 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 $695.75/month, while YMAG would produce $278.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay weekly distributions.
MSTY yield83.49%
YMAG yield33.46%
Monthly diff on $10K$416.92
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 tracks Strategy (MSTR) with a covered call 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 $1.01B in assets. YMAG is managed by YieldMax (launched 01/29/2024) with $310M in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
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) tracks Strategy (MSTR) with a covered call 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.
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 $695.75 per month ($8,349.00 annually). The same in YMAG would produce about $278.83 per month ($3,346.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, MSTY or YMAG?
MSTY has lagged YMAG over the trailing twelve months, posting a -73.50% total return against 15.78%. Measured from Feb 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — YMAG has compounded at 18.78% a year versus 3.48% for MSTY. YMAG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 17.3% 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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