Dividend Vision Lists
Potential Yield-Trap ETFs
A risk screen — not a buy list. These high-yield ETFs pair an 8%+ distribution with a low Distribution Safety Score and a deteriorating signal (a price 15%+ below its 52-week high, or a shrinking payout). The table shows exactly which rule flagged each fund.
Updated October 2026 · 50 funds
DV Scorecard
Our proprietary snapshot of this list — averages and standouts, computed from the funds below. Not investment advice.
A very high yield is a question, not a gift. When a fund pays 8%, 15%, or 30% and its price is falling while the payout shrinks, the distribution is often being funded by return of capital — the market's way of pricing in trouble. This page is a deliberate risk screen that surfaces those funds, so you can recognize the pattern.
This is not a list to avoid at all costs, nor a prediction that any fund will cut — some high-yield strategies are designed to trade NAV for income. It's a caution list: high yield, low Distribution Safety Score, and a real deterioration signal, all at once. The final column names the exact rule that flagged each fund.
How this screen works
A fund appears only when a high yield, a weak Distribution Safety Score, AND a deterioration signal all line up.
- Yield: distribution rate of 8% or more.
- Safety: a Distribution Safety Score below 60 (the "Caution" band or worse). Until 2026-09-07 the floor was 40, which only 13 of the 8%+ universe fall under — a risk screen that could never list the funds it exists to catch.
- Deterioration: AND at least one of — a share price 15% or more below its 52-week high, a trailing-12-month payout down more than 10%, a shrinking year-over-year dividend, or (where available) a negative 1-year price change.
- Rank: riskiest (lowest Distribution Safety Score) first. The "Why it's flagged" column lists the specific rules each fund triggered.
Potential Yield-Trap ETFs
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™ ⓘ | Payout (TTM) | AUM | Why it's flagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MST | Defiance Leveraged Long + Income MSTR ETF | -94.2% | 42.93% | 0 | — | $27M | very low safety · 94% off 52-wk high · price down 87% (1y) |
| MARO | YieldMax MARA Option Income Strategy ETF | -86.4% | 81.30% | 0 | — | $44M | very low safety · 86% off 52-wk high · price down 66% (1y) |
| MTYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST MSTR ETF | -85.3% | 40.61% | 0 | — | $1M | very low safety · 85% off 52-wk high · price down 64% (1y) |
| MSTW | Roundhill MSTR WeeklyPay ETF | -84.6% | 64.94% | 0 | — | $76M | very low safety · 85% off 52-wk high · price down 64% (1y) |
| COYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST COIN ETF | -84.3% | 65.60% | 0 | — | $15M | very low safety · 84% off 52-wk high · price down 55% (1y) |
| HOYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST HOOD ETF | -81.0% | 73.46% | 0 | — | $9M | very low safety · 81% off 52-wk high · price down 45% (1y) |
| RBLY | YieldMax RBLX Option Income Strategy ETF | -80.5% | 60.25% | 0 | — | $7M | very low safety · 80% off 52-wk high · price down 62% (1y) |
| COIW | Roundhill COIN WeeklyPay ETF | -80.4% | 59.26% | 0 | — | $44M | very low safety · 80% off 52-wk high · price down 58% (1y) |
| SMYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST SMCI ETF | -78.8% | 74.41% | 0 | — | $6M | very low safety · 79% off 52-wk high · price down 36% (1y) |
| MSTY | YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF | -77.6% | 92.95% | 0 | -85.3% | $1.0B | very low safety · 78% off 52-wk high · price down 46% (1y) · payout down 85% TTM |
| SMCY | YieldMax SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF | -75.1% | 76.05% | 0 | — | $119M | very low safety · 75% off 52-wk high · price down 42% (1y) |
| HIYY | YieldMax HIMS Option Income Strategy ETF | -74.4% | 83.38% | 0 | — | $12M | very low safety · 74% off 52-wk high · price down 47% (1y) |
| CRCO | YieldMax CRCL Option Income Strategy ETF | -73.7% | 72.88% | 0 | — | $51M | very low safety · 74% off 52-wk high · price down 32% (1y) |
| CONY | YieldMax COIN Option Income Strategy ETF | -72.5% | 60.97% | 0 | -78.3% | $363M | very low safety · 73% off 52-wk high · price down 40% (1y) · payout down 78% TTM |
| AIYY | YieldMax AI Option Income Strategy ETF | -72.1% | 63.81% | 0 | -81.4% | $48M | very low safety · 72% off 52-wk high · price down 44% (1y) · payout down 81% TTM |
| ETCO | Grayscale Ethereum Covered Call ETF | -71.1% | 58.90% | 0 | — | $4M | very low safety · 71% off 52-wk high · price down 39% (1y) |
| DRAY | YieldMax DKNG Option Income Strategy ETF | -70.2% | 50.90% | 0 | — | $3M | very low safety · 70% off 52-wk high · price down 46% (1y) |
| PLYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST PLTR ETF | -68.8% | 58.31% | 0 | — | $2M | very low safety · 69% off 52-wk high · price down 29% (1y) |
| HOOY | YieldMax HOOD Option Income Strategy ETF | -66.5% | 67.51% | 0 | — | $147M | very low safety · 66% off 52-wk high · price down 25% (1y) |
| RDYY | YieldMax RDDT Option Income Strategy ETF | -65.9% | 58.81% | 0 | — | $21M | very low safety · 66% off 52-wk high · price down 18% (1y) |
| XBTY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST Bitcoin ETF | -65.9% | 30.81% | 0 | — | $10M | very low safety · 66% off 52-wk high · price down 28% (1y) |
| NFLW | Roundhill NFLX WeeklyPay ETF | -65.8% | 49.61% | 0 | — | $8M | very low safety · 66% off 52-wk high · price down 48% (1y) |
| YETH | Roundhill Ether Covered Call Strategy ETF | -63.9% | 43.16% | 0 | -68.2% | $58M | very low safety · 64% off 52-wk high · price down 33% (1y) · payout down 68% TTM |
| WNTR | YieldMax Short MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF | -63.7% | 57.26% | 0 | — | $54M | very low safety · 64% off 52-wk high |
| NFLY | YieldMax NFLX Option Income Strategy ETF | -58.3% | 25.01% | 0 | -49.9% | $34M | very low safety · 58% off 52-wk high · price down 36% (1y) · payout down 50% TTM |
| TSII | REX TSLA Growth & Income ETF | -58.1% | 47.46% | 0 | — | $30M | very low safety · 58% off 52-wk high · price down 20% (1y) |
| BABO | YieldMax BABA Option Income Strategy ETF | -57.5% | 34.25% | 0 | -52.4% | $13M | very low safety · 57% off 52-wk high · price down 28% (1y) · payout down 52% TTM |
| TSLW | Roundhill TSLA WeeklyPay ETF | -57.3% | 53.60% | 0 | — | $71M | very low safety · 57% off 52-wk high · price down 25% (1y) |
| BLOX | Nicholas Crypto Income ETF | -56.5% | 39.74% | 0 | — | $317M | very low safety · 57% off 52-wk high · price down 34% (1y) |
| YBIT | YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF | -56.3% | 41.03% | 0 | -64.6% | $60M | very low safety · 56% off 52-wk high · price down 24% (1y) · payout down 65% TTM |
| LFGY | YieldMax Crypto Industry & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF | -56.1% | 44.56% | 0 | — | $91M | very low safety · 56% off 52-wk high · price down 22% (1y) |
| BAGY | Amplify Bitcoin Max Income Covered Call ETF | -55.7% | 33.75% | 0 | — | $10M | very low safety · 56% off 52-wk high · price down 33% (1y) |
| BTCC | Grayscale Bitcoin Covered Call ETF | -55.6% | 52.37% | 0 | — | $16M | very low safety · 56% off 52-wk high · price down 24% (1y) |
| FIAT | YieldMax Short COIN Option Income Strategy ETF | -54.9% | 53.42% | 0 | -69.0% | $30M | very low safety · 55% off 52-wk high · payout down 69% TTM |
| YBTC | Roundhill Bitcoin Covered Call Strategy ETF | -54.2% | 31.66% | 0 | -50.6% | $140M | very low safety · 54% off 52-wk high · price down 27% (1y) · payout down 51% TTM |
| AMYY | GraniteShares YieldBOOST AMD ETF | -52.8% | 70.02% | 0 | — | $9M | very low safety · 53% off 52-wk high |
| AVGW | Roundhill AVGO WeeklyPay ETF | -52.1% | 51.72% | 0 | — | $45M | very low safety · 52% off 52-wk high · price down 13% (1y) |
| TSLY | YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF | -52.1% | 51.65% | 0 | -59.7% | $638M | very low safety · 52% off 52-wk high · price down 11% (1y) · payout down 60% TTM |
| PYPY | YieldMax PYPL Option Income Strategy ETF | -52.1% | 30.92% | 0 | -44.8% | $12M | very low safety · 52% off 52-wk high · price down 17% (1y) · payout down 45% TTM |
| BITY | Amplify Bitcoin 2% Monthly Option Income ETF | -49.6% | 25.21% | 0 | — | $13M | very low safety · 50% off 52-wk high · price down 31% (1y) |
| XYZY | YieldMax XYZ Option Income Strategy ETF | -48.7% | 30.05% | 0 | -60.0% | $20M | very low safety · 49% off 52-wk high · price down 2% (1y) · payout down 60% TTM |
| PLTY | YieldMax PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF | -48.4% | 84.84% | 0 | — | $342M | very low safety · 48% off 52-wk high |
| TSLP | Kurv Yield Premium Strategy Tesla ETF | -46.0% | 27.01% | 0 | -45.9% | $17M | very low safety · 46% off 52-wk high · price down 23% (1y) · payout down 46% TTM |
| BTCI | NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF | -43.6% | 26.11% | 0 | — | $1.4B | very low safety · 44% off 52-wk high · price down 24% (1y) · payout shrinking |
| BCCC | Global X Bitcoin Covered Call ETF | -43.0% | 30.12% | 0 | — | $10M | very low safety · 43% off 52-wk high · price down 16% (1y) |
| DFII | FT Vest Bitcoin Strategy & Target Income ETF | -41.4% | 18.72% | 0 | — | $21M | very low safety · 41% off 52-wk high · price down 26% (1y) |
| BPI | Grayscale Bitcoin Premium Income ETF | -38.0% | 22.24% | 0 | — | $2M | very low safety · 38% off 52-wk high · price down 21% (1y) |
| CRSH | YieldMax Short TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF | -36.4% | 43.88% | 0 | -68.2% | $13M | very low safety · 36% off 52-wk high · payout down 68% TTM |
| NVDW | Roundhill NVDA WeeklyPay ETF | -35.3% | 32.27% | 0 | — | $108M | very low safety · 35% off 52-wk high |
| AMZY | YieldMax AMZN Option Income Strategy ETF | -33.9% | 28.26% | 0 | -41.1% | $206M | very low safety · 34% off 52-wk high · payout down 41% TTM |
A risk screen, not a prediction or recommendation. Some high-yield strategies intentionally trade principal for income. Always read each fund's full analysis. Not investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a yield trap?
A yield trap is an investment whose high yield is created by a falling price or an unsustainable payout, so the income lures buyers into losses. This screen flags 50 high-yield ETFs where low safety meets a deteriorating price or distribution.
Are these funds guaranteed to cut their distribution?
No. This is a risk screen, not a prediction. Some funds here run strategies that deliberately return capital as income. The list highlights a risk pattern worth understanding — it does not forecast any specific outcome.
Why show this at all?
Because the highest yields dominate every ordinary high-yield screen, and beginners often buy them for the headline number. Making the risk pattern explicit — with the exact flag for each fund — is more useful than hiding it.
What does "Why it's flagged" mean?
It lists the specific rules a fund triggered: a very low, low, or caution-band Distribution Safety Score, a price well below its 52-week high, a falling 1-year price, and/or a shrinking payout. Every fund here trips at least the safety rule plus one deterioration signal.
How often is this updated?
Yields, Distribution Safety Score readings, prices, and distributions refresh on every build, so a fund drops off automatically once its numbers improve.
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