Yield label
Identify whether the page shows trailing distribution yield, indicated yield, SEC yield, or another calculation.
Funds & dividends
Income ETFs: Compare Dividend Yield, SEC Yield, and Total Return
Income ETFs can package equity dividends, bond coupons, preferred shares, real estate, option premium, and other cash-flow sources. A payout is not the same as performance, so YieldMask reconnects the distribution with portfolio value, expenses, and risk.
Decision layers
What the headline leaves out
Use the same comparison order every time: define the rate, translate it into dollars, map access, subtract friction, and identify the risk engine.
Distribution source
Separate dividends, interest, gains, option premium, and return of capital.
Total return
Combine distributions with price or NAV change and compare across several market periods.
Portfolio engine
Inspect holdings, sector or credit concentration, duration, option use, and leverage.
Net costs
Include expense ratio, spread, premiums or discounts, advisory fees, and tax treatment.
Payout durability
Stress a distribution cut, a price decline, and a period of continued withdrawals.
Comparison matrix
Normalize the wrapper
These fields turn unlike product pages into a common worksheet. The table is educational and contains no live quotes.
| Fund type | Income engine | Main hidden tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend equity ETF | Company dividends | Equity drawdowns and sector concentration |
| Bond ETF | Coupon income and portfolio yield | Duration, credit, and changing rates |
| Covered-call ETF | Option premium plus portfolio income | Capped upside and distribution classification |
| Preferred ETF | Preferred-security income | Rate sensitivity and issuer concentration |
| Multi-asset income | Blended asset classes | Complex allocation and changing risk mix |
Yield Mask checklist
From advertised rate to decision yield
- Copy the yield label and as-of date.
- Review total return with distributions reinvested.
- Read the top holdings and strategy methodology.
- Check expense ratio and trading spread.
- Identify return-of-capital history and tax documents.
- Match the fund to a portfolio role, not an income target alone.
Research library
Go deeper
Each guide uses one authoritative external reference and links the mechanism back to practical comparison fields.
Dividend ETF Yield: Distribution Rate, SEC Yield, and Total Return Explained
Learn why a large distribution rate is not the same as investment return, and how to compare income ETFs using yield definitions, fees, holdings, and total return.
Read the guide
Treasury Bills vs. Treasury Money Market Funds: A Yield and Liquidity Comparison
Compare direct Treasury bills with Treasury and government money market funds across yield quotes, maturity, liquidity, fees, reinvestment, and account mechanics.
Read the guide
Yield Income Calculator Guide: Turn APY Into Monthly Cash Flow
Learn how to translate APY into estimated monthly income, distinguish simple yield from compounding, and model fees, taxes, rate changes, and withdrawals.
Read the guideFAQ
Common questions
What is the best yield for an income ETF?
There is no universal best number. Higher yield can reflect greater credit, equity, option, leverage, or concentration risk.
Is SEC yield the same as dividend yield?
No. SEC yield is a standardized recent-income measure used by many funds, while dividend or distribution metrics use different inputs.
Can ETF distributions fall?
Yes. Portfolio income, option premium, realized gains, policies, and market conditions can change.