Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
RYLD vs YMAX
Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF versus YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
RYLD wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but YMAX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | RYLD | YMAX | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 11.85% | 78.83% | YMAX wins |
| Dividend safety | 4.7/10 | 4.7/10 | Tie |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 60.00% | 133.00% | RYLD wins |
| Scale | $1.3B | $390M | RYLD wins |
| Tax efficiency | Ordinary income | Ordinary income | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 1 wins | RYLD wins |
Dimension by dimension
YMAX wins on yield (78.83% vs 11.85%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $6698 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
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.
RYLD is cheaper (60.00% vs 133.00%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $7300/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
RYLD is 3.4× 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.
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
Which is better, RYLD or YMAX?
RYLD wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but YMAX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does RYLD or YMAX have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $6698 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is RYLD or YMAX a safer dividend?
RYLD scores 4.7/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. YMAX scores 4.7/10 (Weak). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both RYLD and YMAX?
It depends on overlap. Two ETFs in similar categories often hold many of the same companies — owning both can mean paying two expense ratios for similar exposure. Check the underlying holdings before stacking.
Already own RYLD or YMAX? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding RYLD to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →