Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
MSTY vs YMAX
YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF versus YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
MSTY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but YMAX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
MSTY or YMAX — which is better?
MSTY wins this comparison 2–1 across 6 dimensions. MSTY yields 27.06% — lower than YMAX's 38.34% — and carries a 4.7/10 dividend safety score (Weak) vs 4.7/10 for YMAX (Weak). MSTY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but YMAX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, YMAX generates 38.34% vs 27.06% — a 11.28% difference that translates to $11,280 more per year on a $100,000 investment.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | MSTY | YMAX | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 27.06% | 38.34% | YMAX wins |
| Dividend safety | 4.7/10 | 4.7/10 | Tie |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 103.00% | 133.00% | MSTY wins |
| Scale | $1.1B | $364M | MSTY wins |
| Tax efficiency | Ordinary income | Ordinary income | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 1 wins | MSTY wins |
Dimension by dimension
YMAX wins on yield (38.34% vs 27.06%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $1128 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
YMAX's higher yield (38.34%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus MSTY's 27.06% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
Safety scores are too close to call (4.7/10 vs 4.7/10)
Both score within 0.3 points on our 0-10 dividend safety scale — comparable risk profiles on the signals we measure.
Yield-trend comparison unavailable
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
MSTY is cheaper (103.00% vs 133.00%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $3000/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
On $10,000 invested, MSTY's lower expense ratio saves roughly $30/year in fees versus YMAX. Over 20 years that compounds to a meaningful drag — expense ratios are one of the few costs investors fully control.
MSTY is 3.0× larger by AUM
Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both have similar tax-treatment concerns
Both pay primarily ordinary-income distributions (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT). Hold in a tax-advantaged account for the cleanest treatment.
Full breakdown per ticker: are MSTY dividends qualified and are YMAX dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice. Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
MSTY or YMAX — which is better?
MSTY is better on our scoring, winning 2–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. MSTY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but YMAX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, MSTY or YMAX?
MSTY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but YMAX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
MSTY vs YMAX: which has a higher dividend yield?
MSTY yields 27.06% and YMAX yields 38.34%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $1128 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is MSTY or YMAX a safer dividend in 2026?
MSTY scores 4.7/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. YMAX scores 4.7/10 (Weak). Both have comparable safety scores.
Which has better dividend growth, MSTY or YMAX?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
MSTY vs YMAX: which is more tax-efficient?
Both pay primarily ordinary-income distributions (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT). Hold in a tax-advantaged account for the cleanest treatment.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put MSTY and YMAX into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding MSTY diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.