President Donald Trump's tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China have rocked the US stock market as investors scramble to assess the impact of the new trade policy on their portfolios. Dividend stocks are expected to gain the limelight in this environment amid their strong track record during tough times. Data shows that 85% of the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Index from 1960 through 2023 can be attributed to dividend stocks.
About two months ago, someone asked income investors on r/Dividends — a Reddit discussion board with over 650,000 members — to share their portfolios and income insights. The question received many interesting comments and success stories, but one particular report caught our eye.
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An investor said he was making about $3,900 a month on a portfolio worth about $40,000. The portfolio consisted of YieldMax dividend ETFs which offer high yields.
"Winning feels great," the investor said in a separate comment on a dividend investing success story shared on the social platform.
YieldMax Risks
YieldMax dividend funds are considered risky because they generate income by selling call options, and volatility in the underlying stocks can lead to net asset value erosion. Using options strategies also caps upside gains, preventing long-term capital appreciation.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the key holdings in this portfolio.
YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF
Number of Shares: 100
The YieldMax Bitcoin Options Income Strategy ETF YBIT generates income using a covered call strategy on one or more select Bitcoin ETPs. It has a distribution rate of 82% and pays monthly. Over the past year, YBIT is down 38%.
The investor making $3,900 in dividends per month had 100 YBIT shares in his portfolio.
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YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs
Number of Shares: 70
The YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs YMAX has multiple ETFs in its portfolio that implement options strategies to generate income. The investor owned 100 shares of YMAX.
YieldMax Ultra Income ETF
Number of Shares: 1,000
With a distribution rate of 85%, the YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF ULTY generates income from a portfolio of covered call strategies. It's down 56% over the past one year. The investor had 1,000 ULTY shares in his portfolio.
YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF
Number of Shares: 70
YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF NVDY makes money by selling call options on Nvidia NVDA. Recently, the ETF has gained popularity amid the buzz around Nvidia. The fund has a distribution rate of about 57%. NVDY suits investors who believe in Nvidia's long-term potential but want to hedge against possible declines in the chipmaker's shares.
See Also: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here’s how you can earn passive income with just $100.
YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF
Number of Shares: 348
YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF TSLY is a popular dividend ETF for income investors seeking high yields. With a distribution rate of 69%, TSLY generates income by selling call options on Tesla TSLA shares. TSLY is down 27% so far this year.
YieldMax COIN Option Income Strategy ETF
Number of Shares: 164
YieldMax COIN Option Income Strategy ETF CONY makes money by selling call options on Coinbase Global COIN. The investor had 164 shares of the fund. CONY is a risky investment since its upside potential is capped due to the covered call strategy and its performance is linked to a single company operating in the volatile crypto industry. The fund has a distribution rate of 79% and pays monthly. CONY is down 29% so far this year.
YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF
Number of Shares: 469
The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF MSTY generates income by selling call options on MicroStrategy MSTR stock. Its distribution rate is about 110%.
Wondering if your investments can get you to a $5,000,000 nest egg? Speak to a financial advisor today. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you up with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.
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