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.
SMCI has outpaced SMCY over the trailing twelve months, posting a -41.25% total return against -41.83%. Measured from Sep 2024 — the start of shared available history — SMCI has compounded at -14.80% a year versus -25.75% for SMCY. 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 October 16, 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 Sep 2024” measures every fund from September 12, 2024 — 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.
Distribution rate, SEC yield and return of capital
Metric
SMCI
SMCY
Forward distribution rate
—
76.05%
Trailing 12-month yield
—
149.42%
30-day SEC yield
—
2.10%
Return of capital
—
0.00%
Total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is the Total returns section above. Return of capital is the share of a recent distribution that was not income. A 30-day SEC yield can sit far from the headline distribution rate; both numbers are the fund's own published fields.
Not a distribution payer
SMCI (Super Micro Computer, Inc.) has no distribution rate on file and its distribution frequency is None. SMCI is not a payer. The blank yield is not a zero yield.
Side-by-side snapshot
Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric;
each column is one fund.
Develops and manufactures high-performance server and storage solutions based on modular and open architecture. Specializes in AI, cloud, and edge computing infrastructure with energy-efficient designs.
Seeks current income and indirect exposure to the share price of Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI), investing at least 80% of net assets in instruments providing that exposure.
Bottom lineChoose SMCI if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee. Choose SMCY if you want to maximize current income — roughly 76.05%, generated by selling options premium. There's no free lunch: SMCY's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while SMCI 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. SMCY 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 SMCY.
SMCI (Super Micro Computer, Inc.) is a stock, while SMCY (YieldMax SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF) is an ETF — their trading structures differ.
SMCY currently shows a 76.05% distribution yield. SMCI has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.
Who should choose each?
Choose SMCI
Super Micro Computer, Inc.
Want direct stock ownership — full upside and dividend growth potential, no fund wrapper or expense ratio.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 2.0 vs 2.6 for SMCY.
Choose SMCY
YieldMax SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF
Want to maximize current income — SMCY distributes roughly 76.05% from selling options premium, while SMCI makes no distribution.
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.
Still deciding? Track SMCI & SMCY for free
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On a $10,000 investment, SMCI has no reported distribution yield yet, so a cash estimate is not available, while SMCY would produce $146.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.
SMCI yield—
SMCY yield76.05%
Cost & efficiency
SMCY charges a 1.01% expense ratio — roughly $1,010 over 10 years on $10,000 (simplified, not compounded). SMCI is a stock, not a fund, so it charges no expense ratio.
SMCY ER1.01%
Strategy & risk
SMCI is a stock built around AI servers exposure, while SMCY tracks Super Micro Computer (SMCI) with a covered call approach. Beta is 2.009 for SMCI and 2.5969 for SMCY, making SMCI the less volatile of the two by this measure.
SMCI beta2.009
SMCY beta2.5969
Security details
SMCI (Super Micro Computer, Inc.) is a stock. SMCY is managed by YieldMax (launched 09/11/2024) with $119M in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Which of SMCI or SMCY pays more dividend income?
SMCY currently reports a distribution yield, while SMCI has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.
What is the difference between SMCI and SMCY?
SMCI (Super Micro Computer, Inc.) is a stock built around AI servers exposure, while SMCY (YieldMax SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF) tracks Super Micro Computer (SMCI) with a covered call approach. They are issued by — and YieldMax respectively.
Can I hold both SMCI and SMCY?
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, SMCI or SMCY?
SMCY charges a 1.01% expense ratio. SMCI 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 SMCI vs SMCY generate?
At current rates, SMCI does not pay distributions, so there is no cash income to estimate. The same in SMCY would produce about $146.25 cash per distribution ($7,605.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, SMCI or SMCY?
SMCI has outpaced SMCY over the trailing twelve months, posting a -41.25% total return against -41.83%. Measured from Sep 2024 — the start of shared available history — SMCI has compounded at -14.80% a year versus -25.75% for SMCY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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