Dividend Vision Lists
High-Yield ETFs With Limited Recent Warning Signs
High-yield ETFs ranked by yield after screening for selected recent warning signs: price within 15% of the 52-week high, positive total return since inception over at least a year, no more than a 10% trailing payout decline, and a Distribution Safety Score of 60 or better. These tests describe recent results; they do not establish how distributions were funded.
Updated September 2026 · 50 funds
DV Scorecard
Our proprietary snapshot of this list — averages and standouts, computed from the funds below. Not investment advice.
A high distribution rate can look attractive even while a fund's price or payout weakens. This page starts with ETFs yielding 8% or more, then applies recent price, total-return, payout-change, and Distribution Safety Score guardrails before ranking the survivors by yield.
The screen keeps funds within 15% of their 52-week high, with positive total return since inception over at least one year, no more than a 10% trailing-twelve-month payout decline, and a Safety Score of 60 or better. Those are selected warning-sign checks, not proof that a distribution was earned or that principal was never returned.
How this screen works
A high-yield screen that limits selected recent price and payout warning signs.
- Yield: distribution rate of 8% or more (capped at 60% to exclude posted rates that are not a run-rate).
- Recent price: last close within 15% of the 52-week high. Where the trailing 1-year price change is available it must also be no worse than -5%.
- Lifetime total return: positive since inception with distributions reinvested, over at least one year of history. This is a performance filter, not evidence of distribution composition.
- Limited payout decline: trailing-12-month cash per share down no more than 10% versus the prior twelve months (where we have two full years).
- Safety: a Distribution Safety Score of 60 or better ("Generally safe" or "Safe").
- Rank: highest yield first. The "Why it's listed" column shows the distance from the 52-week high, lifetime total return, and payout change for each fund.
High-Yield ETFs With Limited Recent Warning Signs
Ranked live from our data pipeline on every build — click any column header to re-sort, or open a ticker for the full analysis. We never hard-code the figures.
| Ticker | Fund | vs 52-wk high | Yield | Distribution Safety Score™ ⓘ | Total return (life) | AUM | Why it's listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPTY | YieldMax AI & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF | -6.1% | 35.30% | 79 | +53.2% | $126M | 6% off high · lifetime TR +53% |
| TOPW | Roundhill Top WeeklyPay ETF | -11.8% | 33.85% | 77 | +3.3% | $142M | 12% off high · lifetime TR +3% |
| QDTY | YieldMax Nasdaq 100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF | -2.3% | 25.92% | 65 | +27.0% | $27M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +27% |
| FEPI | REX FANG & Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF | -1.2% | 24.85% | 67 | +69.4% | $695M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +69% · payout -7% TTM |
| CAS | Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF | -8.8% | 23.49% | 71 | +65.3% | $13M | 9% off high · lifetime TR +65% |
| XPAY | Roundhill S&P 500 Target 20 Managed Distribution ETF | -2.1% | 20.84% | 82 | +35.0% | $175M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +35% |
| SPYT | Defiance S&P 500 Income Target ETF | -1.3% | 20.37% | 84 | +30.7% | $162M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +31% · payout -6% TTM |
| QQQT | Defiance Nasdaq-100 Target Income ETF | -2.5% | 20.20% | 84 | +39.4% | $49M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +39% · payout -3% TTM |
| SVOL | Simplify Volatility Premium ETF | -1.1% | 20.12% | 68 | +60.2% | $523M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +60% · payout +3% TTM |
| SDTY | YieldMax S&P 500 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF | -1.4% | 19.84% | 74 | +22.3% | $28M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +22% |
| TLTX | Global X Treasury Bond Enhanced Income ETF | -10.8% | 18.85% | 70 | +2.3% | $15M | 11% off high · lifetime TR +2% |
| MORT | VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF | -14.7% | 18.83% | 62 | +68.9% | $339M | 15% off high · lifetime TR +69% · payout +13% TTM |
| TDAQ | TappAlpha Innovation 100 Growth & Daily Income ETF | -3.9% | 17.12% | 79 | +27.1% | $364M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +27% |
| XLEI | Energy Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF | -1.6% | 15.82% | 79 | +41.3% | $109M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +41% |
| XLKI | Technology Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF | -0.1% | 15.31% | 79 | +32.4% | $17M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +32% |
| QUSA | VistaShares Target 15 USA Quality Income ETF | -3.6% | 15.28% | 74 | +9.0% | $22M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +9% |
| OMAH | VistaShares Target 15 Berkshire Select Income ETF | -3.3% | 15.16% | 79 | +14.7% | $1.1B | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +15% |
| IWMI | NEOS Russell 2000 High Income ETF | -4.5% | 14.58% | 84 | +40.2% | $1.3B | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +40% · payout +12% TTM |
| KQQQ | Kurv Technology Titans Select ETF | -5.2% | 14.43% | 93 | +49.7% | $125M | 5% off high · lifetime TR +50% · payout +107% TTM |
| CAIE | Calamos Autocallable Income ETF | -2.1% | 14.11% | 79 | +26.2% | $1.3B | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +26% |
| SURI | Simplify Propel Opportunities ETF | -9.2% | 14.06% | 92 | +36.1% | $81M | 9% off high · lifetime TR +36% · payout +0% TTM |
| TSPY | SPY Growth & Daily Income ETF | -1.6% | 14.00% | 79 | +37.5% | $319M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +38% |
| QQQI | NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF | -1.6% | 13.99% | 84 | +59.6% | $14.5B | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +60% · payout +13% TTM |
| KBWD | Invesco KBW High Dividend Yield Financial ETF | -13.0% | 13.81% | 82 | +129.9% | $388M | 13% off high · lifetime TR +130% · payout -1% TTM |
| JEPQ | JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF | -0.0% | 13.60% | 90 | +91.8% | $42.8B | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +92% · payout +11% TTM |
| YYY | Amplify High Income ETF | -5.1% | 13.30% | 72 | +118.2% | $699M | 5% off high · lifetime TR +118% · payout +0% TTM |
| LDDR | Stone Ridge 2035 Term Income ETF | -3.1% | 13.26% | 91 | +1056.0% | $38M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +1056% |
| RNTY | YieldMax Real Estate Premium Income ETF | -6.5% | 13.06% | 79 | +7.9% | $6M | 6% off high · lifetime TR +8% |
| XLVI | Health Care Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF | -3.3% | 13.06% | 79 | +21.2% | $27M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +21% |
| ACEI | Innovator Equity Autocallable I | -4.5% | 12.89% | 79 | +5.7% | $48M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +6% |
| RYLD | Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF | -3.7% | 12.60% | 65 | +49.9% | $1.4B | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +50% · payout -1% TTM |
| XRMI | Global X S&P 500 Risk Managed Income ETF | -0.2% | 12.35% | 81 | +17.9% | $58M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +18% · payout -4% TTM |
| BIGY | YieldMax Target 12 Big 50 Option Income ETF | -0.9% | 12.12% | 79 | +28.4% | $44M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +28% |
| FTKI | First Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF | -8.0% | 12.11% | 79 | +17.9% | $27M | 8% off high · lifetime TR +18% |
| NDIV | Amplify Natural Resources Dividend Income ETF | -4.1% | 12.11% | 76 | +78.3% | $32M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +78% · payout +84% TTM |
| SPYI | NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF | -0.7% | 12.07% | 90 | +77.0% | $11.9B | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +77% · payout +12% TTM |
| WTPI | WisdomTree Equity Premium Income Fund | -1.0% | 12.07% | 61 | +136.4% | $528M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +136% · payout +3% TTM |
| QRMI | Global X Nasdaq 100 Risk Managed Income ETF | 0.0% | 12.04% | 76 | +12.0% | $15M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +12% · payout -6% TTM |
| MLPD | Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure Covered Call ETF | -0.7% | 11.98% | 84 | +33.6% | $27M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +34% · payout +19% TTM |
| FTQI | First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF | 0.0% | 11.95% | 98 | +144.0% | $955M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +144% · payout +12% TTM |
| AMAX | Adaptive Hedged Multi-Asset Income ETF | -7.6% | 11.86% | 60 | +18.8% | $76M | 8% off high · lifetime TR +19% · payout +33% TTM |
| QYLD | Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF | -0.2% | 11.83% | 81 | +198.6% | $8.3B | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +199% · payout -5% TTM |
| SEPQ | STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF | -2.6% | 11.79% | 90 | +82.0% | $89M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +82% · payout +9% TTM |
| XLUI | Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF | -9.6% | 11.78% | 61 | +2.3% | $49M | 10% off high · lifetime TR +2% |
| SBAR | Simplify Barrier Income ETF | -0.7% | 11.70% | 82 | +20.8% | $424M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +21% |
| WEEL | Peerless Option Income Wheel ETF | -13.8% | 11.63% | 79 | +33.0% | $43M | 14% off high · lifetime TR +33% |
| XLBI | Materials Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF | -5.8% | 11.51% | 64 | +12.1% | $8M | 6% off high · lifetime TR +12% |
| HIPS | GraniteShares HIPS US High Income ETF | -4.6% | 11.37% | 82 | +59.8% | $123M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +60% · payout +0% TTM |
| PBP | Invesco S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF | -0.1% | 11.32% | 70 | +155.8% | $380M | near 52-wk high · lifetime TR +156% · payout +45% TTM |
| IYRI | NEOS Real Estate High Income ETF | -6.2% | 11.03% | 79 | +12.4% | $307M | 6% off high · lifetime TR +12% |
These proxies cannot determine whether a distribution included return of capital or predict future NAV and payout changes. Review distribution tax notices, total return, and the fund's strategy. Not investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does this screen measure?
It checks 50 high-yield ETFs against selected recent warning signs: distance from the 52-week high, total return since inception, trailing payout change, and Distribution Safety Score. It does not determine the tax or economic source of each distribution.
How much payout decline can a fund have?
The trailing-12-month payout may be down by as much as 10% versus the prior twelve months where two full years of data are available. The page therefore describes limited recent payout decline, not a flat or rising payout.
Why is the 52-week high the reference point?
Distance from the 52-week high is one recent price-warning indicator. A 15% window allows ordinary pullbacks while excluding larger declines, but it cannot by itself diagnose NAV erosion or explain how distributions were funded.
Does passing this screen prove the yield is safe or was not funded by principal?
No. Price and total-return proxies cannot establish distribution composition. Option-income distributions depend on the underlying path and manager policy, and tax notices may later classify part of a payout as return of capital.
Why isn't the fund I own on the list?
Most likely it failed one of the price tests — it is more than 15% below its 52-week high, its lifetime total return is negative, or its trailing payout shrank by more than 10%. The Potential Yield-Trap ETFs list shows the funds at the other end of the same screen.
How often is this updated?
Yields, prices, total returns, payouts, and Safety Scores refresh on every build, so a fund drops off automatically when its price breaks down and joins when it recovers.
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