Methodology

Annualized yield uses the fund's most recent distributions rather than a trailing 12-month sum, which keeps the number responsive when covered-call and option-income funds change payouts week to week.

yield_percent = (weekly_avg × 52) ÷ price × 100

weekly_avg is the mean of the last 3 distributions. price is the latest close from Alpaca IEX.

YTD is price-only, split-adjusted, close to close: from the last close of the previous calendar year to the most recent close. Distributions are excluded so the figure isolates NAV performance — which is where option-income ETFs typically decay.

ytd_percent = (close_today − close_dec31_prior_year) ÷ close_dec31_prior_year × 100

All splits (forward and reverse) are applied to historical prices before the calculation.

DRIP total return compounds every distribution back into new shares at the ex-date close. Non-DRIP total return sums cash distributions received plus the change in share price. Both are reported over the trailing 12 months.

Every active weekly ETF earns a composite score built from three factors:

• NAV Protection — 40 points. How closely the split-adjusted price has held over the trailing 3- and 6-month windows. Full points for flat or positive NAV; zero points for a 20%+ decline.
• Stability — 20 points. Inverse of daily-return volatility. Full points when daily standard deviation is at or below 0.35%.
• Yield — 40 points. Annualized yield scaled linearly, capped so funds cannot game the score with unsustainable payouts alone.

Funds without enough price history to score NAV or Stability reliably are excluded from the leaderboard until data catches up.

• Prices — Alpaca IEX, refreshed hourly during market hours.
• Dividends — Alpaca Corporate Actions, refreshed hourly.
• Expense ratio, inception date, About — StockAnalysis.com, refreshed daily at 5 AM UTC.
• AUM — Yahoo Finance, refreshed daily.
• Splits — Alpaca Corporate Actions, refreshed weekly.
• News — Alpaca News feed, refreshed daily.