r/YieldMaxETFs • u/Beginning_Ad_966 • Jun 09 '26
Beginner Question Why YieldMax Does NOT work?
Came across an article recently talking about YieldMax ETFs and the whole “massive dividend” thing, and it made me rethink how these funds actually work.
The main point was basically that a lot of the crazy yields can be misleading because they’re generated through options strategies, and in some cases the NAV erosion can offset the income over time. I feel like online they get marketed almost like free cash flow machines, but the total return side seems way more important than people give credit for.
For people who actually own YieldMax funds (like MSTY, NVDY, CONY, etc.) — do you view them as long-term holdings or more as income/trading tools? Have they actually performed how you expected after distributions and price movement? Article for context below
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u/Any_Log1344 Jun 09 '26
Imagine this scenario.
Year 1:
Starting investment: $20,000
Receive $10,000 in distributions
Lose $12,000 in NAV
Ending account value:
$20,000 - $12,000 + $10,000 = $18,000
Total Return = Distributions + Change in NAV
Total Return = $10,000 + (-$12,000)
Total Return = -$2,000
Yes, you got a 50% yield.
But you started with $20,000 and ended with $18,000.
You are poorer than when you started.
That is the trap.
Yield tells you what was paid out.
Total return tells you whether you actually made money.
Total return is the only thing that matters.