YieldMax has a broad catalog of ETFs predicated on artificially generating high yield dividends by the use of derivatives against volatile stocks, cryptocurrencies, and various portfolio collections by industry or other criteria.
The MSTY ETF features an annual yield that's hard for income-focused investors to resist.
MSTY's 140% dividend yield remains sustainable and could rise further, driven by MSTR's unique volatility and leveraged Bitcoin exposure. Active management allows MSTY to generate strong premiums even as MSTR's volatility declines, supporting robust and growing monthly payouts. MSTY's structure (blending Treasuries, cash, and covered calls) mitigates downside risk and enhances yield potential in choppy or range-bound markets.
Yieldmax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF offers a way for income investors to gain exposure to the volatility of Bitcoin and MSTR using advanced options trading strategies to generate a 140% TTM yield. MSTR's business as both an AI analytics leader and the largest Bitcoin treasury, adds layers to future growth prospects of the company and underlying Bitcoin asset, driving substantial speculation and volatility. NAV erosion should be monitored carefully, but new changes to the prospectus should help mitigate this risk further.
YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF's synthetic strategy around MSTR delivers extraordinary income, with a TTM yield of 140%, making it a net positive investment despite share price volatility. The ETF's unique approach leverages MSTR's Bitcoin exposure and options premiums, but investors must understand the risks and mechanics before diving in. MSTY's total return, factoring in distributions, is competitive with BTC and offers a compelling case for adventurous income-focused investors seeking indirect crypto exposure.
I am upgrading MSTY from sell to hold due to a more favorable regulatory and political environment for cryptocurrencies under President Trump. MSTY offers high income potential and strong recent returns, but it consistently underperforms MSTR and carries significant downside risk due to volatility. The fund's options strategy is improving, with more consistent monthly payouts, but its structure limits upside capture and exposes investors to sharp drawdowns.
MSTY has done incredibly well with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 123%, but I don't believe this performance will continue in 2025. Of the three underlying mechanisms MSTY uses to generate income, only one is likely to work in a bear market – and even then, only in a muted fashion. I suspect the bull run in BTC still has some room left, and it may reach around $225,000 before entering a bear phase.
YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (MSTY) offers a high distribution yield but carries elevated risk due to its indirect association with Bitcoin's volatility. MSTY's synthetic options strategy generates high income but limits capital appreciation, making it vulnerable to Bitcoin's price fluctuations and potential crypto market downturns. MSTY's total return exceeds 48.5% due to high distributions, outperforming traditional ETFs but risking long-term capital erosion.
Trump's tariffs have created a favorable environment for MSTY due to MSTR capturing overall higher market volatility despite its business being minimally affected by tariffs. MSTY offers significant income potential with recent distributions annualizing to 80.89% and still yielding around 60% even with a potential 25% cut. Investors should be cautious of MSTY's risks, including Trump's unpredictability and potential lower option premiums from Bitcoin stabilization.
YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (MSTY) is a high-risk income ETF with volatile underlying assets, making it unsuitable for stable income seekers. Covered call strategies on volatile assets like MSTR and Bitcoin may cap upside gains while providing limited downside protection, questioning their effectiveness. MSTY's performance shows lower volatility but fails to capture significant upside, making direct investment in MSTR or Bitcoin preferable for potential gains.
MSTY, the Yieldmax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF, is an inefficient fund that we expect will decay over time, making it unsuitable for those seeking income or price appreciation. While MSTY sports a high yield, the leveraged Bitcoin exposure provided by MSTR seems uniquely unsuited to a call-selling strategy. This could lead to massive opportunity costs for investors over the long term.
Creativity in investing is essential, but overcomplicating strategies can be problematic. Covered-call ETFs are increasingly popular among dividend investors seeking alternatives in low-rate environments. Synthetic call spreads offer 100% exposure to underlying equities using less capital, with treasuries as collateral.