ETF Yield Calculator
Pick any weekly dividend ETF we track, enter either a dollar amount or a share count, and see what the fund's current distribution rate translates into per week, per month and per year. Prices and distributions are pulled from live data, so the numbers reflect the most recent declaration rather than a stale trailing average. Switch on reinvestment to compound the share count week by week.
The yield figure behind every result is built the same way: take the average of the fund's last three weekly distributions, divide by the current share price, and multiply by 52. That produces an annualized rate anchored to what the fund is actually paying today rather than to a trailing twelve-month figure that may include payments made under very different market conditions. Because the payout is option premium, the rate is a run rate and not a guarantee — a volatile month lifts it, a quiet month lowers it, and the issuer can reduce or skip a distribution at any time. DRIP modelling works by reinvesting each weekly distribution into additional shares at the current price, so the share count grows every week and each subsequent payment is slightly larger; the projection holds the price and distribution rate constant to isolate that compounding effect. Read the income output alongside the fund's split-adjusted price history, since a large distribution funded by eroding net asset value is not the same as one funded by strategy income.
How the calculation works
The math is deliberately simple, because the complexity in weekly income investing is not arithmetic — it is the variability of the inputs. Your share count is your investment divided by the share price. Weekly income is the share count multiplied by the most recent distribution per share. Annual income is that weekly figure times 52, and the annualized yield is annual income divided by the amount invested.
Two caveats matter more than the formula. First, weekly distributions are funded by option premium, which expands when markets are volatile and contracts when they are calm — so a run rate captured this week is not a promise about next quarter. Second, income is only half the picture. If a fund pays 40% annualized while its share price falls 35%, your total return is close to flat, and the calculator's income figure will look far better than your account. Read the income output alongside each fund's split-adjusted price history and total return.
Reinvestment (DRIP)
With reinvestment enabled, each weekly distribution buys additional shares at the current price, so the share count grows every week and the next distribution is slightly larger. The projection holds price and distribution rate constant to isolate the compounding effect. To model price erosion explicitly, use the DRIP calculator, which includes an annual price-change input.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate weekly dividend income from an ETF?
Divide your investment by the share price to get a share count, then multiply that share count by the fund's most recent weekly distribution per share. That is one week's income. Multiply by 52 for an annual run rate. The calculator on this page does both steps using live price and distribution data.
What is the difference between yield and total return?
Yield measures only the cash paid out relative to price. Total return combines that cash with the change in share price. A fund paying 50% annualized while its price falls 45% has a high yield and a near-zero total return, so always read the yield figure next to the fund's split-adjusted price history.
How does DRIP affect my dividend income over time?
With reinvestment on, each weekly distribution buys more shares, so the next distribution is slightly larger and income compounds week by week. Compounding weekly at the same nominal rate beats monthly or quarterly slightly, but it cannot offset a persistently falling share price.
Why does my ETF yield change week to week?
Weekly option-income distributions are funded by the premium collected on short-dated options, which expands when implied volatility rises and contracts when markets are calm. Both the numerator (the distribution) and the denominator (the share price) move, so the annualized figure is a moving run rate.
How do you calculate ETF dividend income?
Multiply your share count by the distribution per share to get the income for one payment period. For a weekly ETF, multiply that weekly figure by 52 for an annual run rate. Starting from a dollar amount instead, divide your investment by the share price to get the share count first.
How much do I need to invest to earn $1,000 a month?
Divide $12,000 by the fund's annualized yield expressed as a decimal. At a 30% annualized yield that is roughly $40,000; at 60% roughly $20,000. High yields require less capital but carry proportionally more risk of price erosion, so the required capital and the risk move together.
Is ETF yield calculated before or after taxes?
Published yields, including the ones on this site, are pre-tax. Weekly option-income distributions are frequently ordinary income or return of capital rather than qualified dividends, so the after-tax figure can be materially lower in a taxable account. Use the after-tax dividend calculator to model it.
Does the calculator account for dividend reinvestment?
Yes. Turn on the reinvestment option to compound your share count weekly over the number of years you choose. The projection holds the distribution rate and share price constant, so treat it as a mechanical illustration rather than a forecast.
Why is my actual income different from the calculator?
Weekly distributions vary with option premium, so the amount changes with each declaration. The calculator annualizes the most recent payment, which is a current run rate. Actual income over a year will be higher or lower depending on volatility, and share price moves change your total return separately.