The Yieldmax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (MSTY) offers a headline 100%+ yield, but this is largely unsustainable and primarily funded by return of capital. MSTY consistently underperforms MSTR during rallies, while only marginally mitigating downside, making it unattractive compared to direct MSTR exposure. Recent dividend reductions and high return of capital indicate the payout is shrinking and not supported by true income generation.
I construct covered call ETF portfolios using a three-bucket approach: safe, moderate, and ultra-high yield for balanced income and risk. Portfolio weightings target 50% in 10–25% yield ETFs, 30% in 25–50% yield, and 20% in 50%+ yield, with regular rebalancing. Proxies like IWMI (safe), BLOX (moderate), and MSTY (ultra-high yield) illustrate how to allocate and manage risk across buckets.
It's tempting to think about throwing in the towel on an ETF that has so much negative momentum riding behind it.
| ARCA Exchange | US Country |
The described fund operates as an actively managed Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) with a primary focus on generating current income for its investors, while also providing them an opportunity for exposure to the share price movements of MicroStrategy Incorporated. This actively managed investment approach maintains an emphasis on income generation without the intention of pivoting towards defensive investment strategies during periods of market volatility, economic downturns, or other adverse conditions. The fund is characterized by its lack of diversification, as it concentrates its investment activities around the performance of MSTR, MicroStrategy's common stock, distinguishing itself by not restricting its investment tactics to defensively counteract temporary market downswings.
The fund focuses on active management strategies to achieve its objective of current income generation and to offer investors exposure to the common stock of MicroStrategy Incorporated. This entails making investment decisions based on ongoing market analysis and the performance of MicroStrategy, rather than following a passive investment approach or tracking a specific index. Active management allows the fund to adjust its investment strategies in real-time, aiming to capitalize on market opportunities or mitigate potential risks.
At the core of its investment philosophy, the fund prioritizes current income generation for its shareholders. This approach involves selecting investments that are expected to produce income on a regular basis, which could be in the form of dividends from stocks or interest from fixed-income securities. The focus on income generation is designed to appeal to investors seeking a steady stream of income from their investment portfolios, especially in varying market conditions.
Providing exposure to the common stock of MicroStrategy Incorporated (MSTR) is a distinctive feature of the fund. This exposure allows investors to participate in the potential growth and performance of MicroStrategy's stock, within the broader context of an actively managed ETF. The fund’s investment in MSTR is subject to a limit on potential investment gains, which denotes a strategic approach to balancing the opportunity for growth with the risk of significant market fluctuations. The decision to focus on MicroStrategy stems from its potential impact on the fund's objective of income generation and capital appreciation.
As a non-diversified fund, there is a concentrated investment in fewer holdings, specifically focusing on the performance and prospects of MicroStrategy Incorporated. This concentration could potentially lead to higher volatility and risk, as the fund's performance may be more directly affected by the fortunes of a single issuer. However, the fund accepts this risk as part of its strategy to achieve its investment objectives, without seeking to diversify its investments across a wide range of securities or market sectors.