Each week, we calculate the equal-weighted average YTD total return for hundreds of income-focused active ETFs across six categories. We include funds with at least $10 million in AUM and exclude leveraged and inverse funds. That shows which income categories are beating or trailing the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which generated a YTD total return of 10.38% through November 9, 2026.
Income-based Active ETF Scorecard
Dow Jones Industrial Average delivered 10.38% YTD total return through November 9, 2026. Here’s how each income category’s top active ETF performed.
Explore the full range of income-generating strategies among the active ETFs on Dividend.com.
Active High Dividend (YTD Total Return: +17.02%)
High Dividend still leads at +17.02%, down 3.50 points from +20.52%, as the Russell 2000 fell 2.05% for the week, including a 4.45% drop on Thursday. Look for funds whose shareholder yield holds up when small caps swing.
Cambria Micro and SmallCap Shareholder Yield ETF (MYLD), up 25.06% YTD, yielding 3.0%, kept the top spot despite falling from 29.59%. Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF (SYLD), up 23.89% YTD, yielding 1.6%, and Federated Hermes U.S. Strategic Dividend ETF (FDV), up 21.62% YTD, yielding 2.8%, held up better. Eventide High Dividend ETF (ELCV), up 15.35% YTD, yielding 2.7%, fell hardest of the group, from 20.25%. Compare more payers on our high-yield dividend page.
Active Dividend Growth (YTD Total Return: +12.02%)
Dividend Growth fell 2.00 points to +12.02% from +14.02%. October payrolls rose 165,000 against a 59,000 forecast, and CME FedWatch odds of a December hike climbed to 76.8% from 66.9%, so favor managers whose payout growth can absorb higher borrowing costs.
Freedom Day Dividend ETF (MBOX), up 21.85% YTD, yielding 2.5%, still leads after easing from 24.21%. Altrius Global Dividend ETF (DIVD), up 20.56% YTD, yielding 2.2%, lost the least of the top four, about 1.3 points. TBG Dividend Focus ETF (TBG), up 19.22% YTD, yielding 2.7%, ranks third. T. Rowe Price Equity Income ETF (TEQI), up 17.77% YTD, returns to the top four, passing BDVG at 17.49%. See which companies have raised payouts for decades on our Dividend Aristocrats page.
Active Foreign Dividend (YTD Total Return: +11.46%)
Foreign Dividend fell 1.45 points to +11.46% from +12.91%, its sixth straight weekly decline, as Asian chip stocks slid and the hot U.S. jobs data lifted the dollar. Check that a fund’s yield doesn’t rest on a handful of energy or chip names.
Cambria Foreign Shareholder Yield ETF (FYLD), up 21.56% YTD, yielding 2.6%, still leads but gave back nearly four points from 25.48%. Cambria Emerging Shareholder Yield ETF (EYLD), up 17.84% YTD, yielding 4.1%, dropped from 20.29%. Virtus International Dividend ETF (VDI), up 16.81% YTD with a 4.2% distribution rate, replaces AGEM in the top four. WisdomTree Emerging Markets Quality Dividend Growth Fund (DGRE), up 16.05% YTD, yielding 2.0%, slipped from 19.55%. Browse international income ideas on our foreign dividend page.
Active Covered Call (YTD Total Return: +6.39%)
Covered Call slipped 1.19 points to +6.39% from +7.58%, its fourth straight drop, but moved back to fourth because Alternative Dividend fell harder. With tech and energy both selling off, check how much of a fund’s payout rides on one stock or commodity.
YieldMax MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF (MRNY), up 532.03% YTD from 468.58%, rose after Moderna beat revenue estimates on November 6 and raised its 2026 outlook; its distribution rate climbed to 90.9% from 71.0% on a larger payout. YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF (AMDY), up 75.28% YTD with a 44.6% distribution rate, fell from 81.13% as AMD’s post-earnings pop faded, and its latest payout is estimated at 100% return of capital. Defiance Oil Enhanced Options Income ETF (USOY), up 60.71% YTD with a 45.0% distribution rate, an estimated 94.7% of it return of capital, dropped from 69.15% along with crude. State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLEI), up 29.09% YTD, enters the top four as SOXY fell to 28.34% from 43.44%. Weigh the trade-offs between popular strategies in our covered call ETF guide.
Active Alternative Dividend (YTD Total Return: +6.08%)
Alternative Dividend dropped 1.70 points to +6.08% from +7.78% and slipped to fifth after WTI crude fell nearly 13% for the week to $90.83. Check how closely a fund’s distributions track commodity prices before chasing trailing yields.
Invesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF (PDBC), up 41.66% YTD, still leads after falling from 46.11%. InfraCap MLP ETF (AMZA), up 23.48% YTD, yielding 8.3%, lost more than seven points from 30.75%. Leatherback Long/Short Alternative Yield ETF (LBAY), up 21.14% YTD, yielding 3.9%, enters the top four as TNGY fell to 17.83% from 29.73%. Invesco SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (PIPE), up 18.61% YTD, fell from 27.76%. Real estate payers are listed on our REIT dividend page.
Active Preferred Stock Dividend (YTD Total Return: -0.45%)
Preferred Stock was the only category to improve, rising 0.43 points to -0.45% from -0.88% as money moved into Treasuries and the 10-year yield ended near 4.86%, down from 4.94%. A December hike is still the base case, so focus on credit quality and call terms.
Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities Active ETF (CSPF), up 2.04% YTD, yielding 6.2%, leads after rising from 1.71%. Nuveen Preferred and Income ETF (NPFI), up 1.33% YTD, yielding 5.6%, and Principal Spectrum Preferred Securities Active ETF (PREF), up 1.21% YTD, yielding 5.6%, both improved from 0.95% and 0.66%. PIMCO Preferred and Capital Securities Active ETF (PRFD), up 0.60% YTD, yielding 6.1%, replaces FPEI at 0.57%. Fixed-rate and floating-rate options are on our preferred securities page.
Categories to Watch
October CPI, out this morning, rose 0.4% against 0.3% expected and pushed the 10-year yield above 5.00% intraday, which puts the preferred category’s small gain at risk.
The Fed meets December 8 and 9, and futures now treat a quarter-point hike as the likely outcome. Income buyers may want to keep duration short until then.
Energy-linked funds in Covered Call and Alternative Dividend face the November 29 OPEC+ meeting on 2027 output, plus any progress on Iran talks, after crude’s drop erased much of its war premium.
Use the Dividend.com screener to search for income securities that meet your specific needs.
For more updates on income investing and past issues of this scorecard, visit the Dividend.com news section.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
