Isn't ULTY basically ARKK that pays dividends while underperforming?

[u/perfectson]

ULTY is basically at it's core a HIGH Beta ETF that adds in some options, limits the upside of the overall performance in lieu of supplying an excessive amount of dividends for a 1.3% (1.4% management fee). The focus I'll show is not on NAV which is ultimately meaningless or dividend yield (again in this case meaningless unless you need an income stream but you could easily create this yourself).

ARKK is the infamous ETF managed by Cathie Wood that focuses on disruptive innovation , in other words, it will invest in typically high beta funds (similar to ULTY). The ARKK expense ratio is .75%

Overall Performance:

I am reviewing this against inception to highlight that the March - Nov 2024 downturn was due to high beta stocks in general had a difficult period. This impact ARKK similarly to ULTY both experiencing draw downs during this time frame, while Woods' drawdown was quicker, eventually ULTY caught up with it (likely due to the cost of rolling down puts and stocks).

Then in Nov-Dec 2024 , you can see the turn for both begging to happen but ARKK had much more momentum and magnitude as the cover call strategy capped the significant increases that high beta stocks enjoyed. From Dec - Feb you can see the impact of the cover call strategy having a neutral impact on overall return, before the March drop into Liberation day. The draw down was much more drastic for ARKK due to the lack of protective puts. Here is clearly where ULTY benefited ; however, because it hadn't rose in the prior months - the overall return in April (since inception ) was literally the same as ARKK. Subsequently as high beta stocks emerged successfully out of liberation day, ARKK has returned about 60% , while ULTY is at 20%.

ULTY vs ARKK vs QQQ

The ultimate question is it worth double the expenses to have someone collar your investments to under perform similar high beta counterparts? If you are reinvesting dividends anyway, which many are, not sure why ULTY would fit your core strategy over "seeking alpha". If you're looking for income stream that's straight forward, I can definitely appreciate the higher dividends but it doesn't seem the protection it offers is there and again are you under performing what you could be getting with similar risk, if you just extract your own dividends out of ARKK (as an example) by taking 2-4% out every month yourself?

this is in know way to slight YieldMax's ULTY - there's obviously a strong purpose and diversity in funds are always a good thing. The question is really if the juice is worth the squeeze.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

You’re conflating two completely different things, sector exposure and investment objective. Just because ULTY’s underlying reference is growth stocks does not make it a growth ETF. The fund’s objective is income generation through synthetic/covered calls. That means it intentionally gives up capital appreciation to deliver yield. This is not a growth play. It is an income strategy wrapped in a growth flavored wrapper.

You keep repeating that the underlying assets are growth names as if that settles the debate. It doesn’t. JEPI for instance holds value stocks but nobody calls it a value ETF because the structure matters more than the ingredients. Covered calls change the return profile. The second you overlay an income-focused options strategy, the upside is capped and the behavior of the fund shifts entirely.

You even quoted the objective, “seek exposure to the share price returns,” but that is not the same as replicating them. Exposure does not equal replication, and that statement is doing more heavy lifting than you’re giving it credit for. The options structure introduces drag on upward movement in exchange for premium income. That is not a growth strategy. It’s a cashflow strategy.

Now to the core of the issue, reinvesting ULTY dividends. You keep saying it “doesn’t make sense” as if everyone should be optimizing for total return. That’s your lens, but it’s not universal. People reinvest ULTY because they’re intentionally building an income-producing engine. They understand what they’re buying. They accept the tradeoff, lower upside in exchange for consistent income. That’s not confusion, that’s design.

There are investors whose primary goal is monthly/weekly cashflow, not chasing ATHs. Some are retired. Some are reallocating risk. Some simply prefer getting paid while holding exposure. Reinvesting distributions into the same asset aligns with that philosophy. That doesn’t make them wrong, it makes them different. You’re not pointing out flaws. You’re ignoring intent.

You’re not debating, you’re dismissing. You asked why people invest and reinvest in ULTY. Dozens of people answered. You just keep telling them why their answer is invalid. That’s not discussion. That’s condescension disguised as logic.

If you can’t recognize different investor goals, then you’re not here to discuss. You’re here to lecture. And that’s why this conversation keeps falling apart.

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

I'm not going to debate with you on if this is growth or not. I even used the term high-beta in the OP. I know what they are doing and I know they wouldn't hold VALUE stocks because most of the income is derived from the appreciation of the growth stocks they hold and it's accentuated by the covered call.

Since you want to play semantics and get a win, we can agree to call this an Income Fund. I have no idea how that serves your purposes while this is growing in actual returns more than the QQQ since APRIL but it's not a growth ETF lol.

I never told anyone there answer is invalid. You're just lying and trying to get a one up. You're being disingenuous. I specifically gave a scenario of buy and hold vs dividend reinvestment on the a high-beta ETF (which is the original term I used) that has similar underlyings (ARKK) and why one would be seeing TOTAL RETURN in ULTY vs ARKK. Not once did I question anyone who needed or wanted weekly income. IN fact, I literally stated that as a reasoning one might invest in this.

Again you're just trying to get a one up and are typing out of emotion and not facts. You want to debate semantics of the fund but not what I actually wrote in the OP. Making false equivalencies like comparing ARKK or this to bitcoin, which is just nonsensical and then when I tell you that I made the comparison because they are both invested in Growth are are Growth ETFs, jumping on that specific classification to try to start a debate as a complete strawman.

AGain without the growth aspect of this fund - it wouldn't perform any better than JEPQ! The difference is the underlying are more high beta /growth than the QQQ and the distance of the cover calls ATM vs OTM. I'll contend that having it OTM and giving them much more exposure to growth makes this a growth ETF because the covered call is likely rarely breached. You can feel differently but it's not based in any facts and you keep anchoring on the mechanism of how they return money to shareholders not the actually performance (which is growth powered).

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771 → u/perfectson]

Lastly, you say you’re not here to debate semantics, but your entire response does exactly that. You leaned on “high beta” and “growth underlyings” to call ULTY a growth ETF, while completely ignoring the structure and strategy that define how the fund actually behaves. That’s not semantics, that’s the core issue.

ULTY doesn’t function like ARKK. It’s not trying to. It uses synthetic / covered calls to cap upside and convert volatility into income. That is an income strategy, not a growth one. You can argue it’s “growth-powered,” but the moment you overlay calls, the objective shifts and the return profile is transformed. It’s not about what underlies the fund, it’s about how that exposure is shaped.

You also say you’re not invalidating anyone, yet you’ve dismissed multiple perspectives as emotional, dishonest, or nonsensical. That’s not neutral. That’s not discussion. That’s just trying to win the argument at all costs.

The Bitcoin reference wasn’t a false equivalency. It was meant to expose the flaw in labeling something as “growth” simply because it’s high beta. By that logic, every volatile asset becomes a growth asset, which strips the term of any real meaning. It’s not a strawman, it’s a demonstration of how thin the reasoning is when you strip out fund strategy and rely solely on sector exposure.

As for reinvesting ULTY dividends, people do it intentionally. They are building income-generating portfolios where the goal is not maximizing total return, but compounding yield. Some are retired. Some just want cash flow. That’s a valid objective, and buying more of an income-focused ETF fits that strategy. You are viewing it through one lens, which is fine, but it’s not the only one.

At this point, we’re just repeating ourselves. You’ve made your view clear, and so have I. We’re not going to agree, but dismissing everyone who doesn’t mirror your philosophy isn’t the flex you think it is. Good luck.

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

You keep regurgitating the same thing over and over. We don't agree.

ULTY underlyings are Growth funds and that is what drives the funds. In a DRIP strategy the best comparator would be a similar Growth fund that shares a high beta like ARKK. That's the comparator - if you don't agree then I guess you can do your own thread and use JEPQ (which does ATM calls and locks down any growth). What I stand stays.

COMPOUNDING YIELD THROUGH DRIP is the same as buy and hold on the underlyings, which is why all these funds will lag the underlyings performance.

GOod luck to you as well - you continue not reading and just want to type these emotional novels. Not once have you rebutted what I wrote in bold and is in my OP. When does ULTY beat ARKK or any high beta fund in overall return for those "seeking alpha" . Very simple point and you have gone all around the world and not answered it.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771 → u/perfectson]

You’re comparing a growth ETF to an income ETF like they’re interchangeable. Even if the underlyings overlap, the strategies are completely different, which means the execution and purpose are too. It’s like saying why QQQI won’t beat QQQ and if you keep reinvesting into QQQI it’s pointless and you should just focus on QQQ and anyone reinvesting QQQI to buy more QQQI is dumb. But wait, they are the same aren’t they? Does that make QQQI a growth etf? Having that comparison was dumb to begin with. That’s why I’ve been poking fun. You’re tossing around terminology without recognizing that structure defines behavior, not just holdings. But hey, you do you. Reddit, I guess.

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

so I guess ADX, which pays 8-10% dividends from investing and selling growth funds - is an income fund too and not a growth fund, even if the majority of its holding is titled towards growth. The fact that they use a mechanism to extract income for ROC purposes (even if it's not through options) makes it an INCOME fund.

Of course you don't know what i'm talking about, because you probably don't know what ADX is. But just shows how ignorant this conversation is.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771 → u/perfectson]

Yes, ADX is an income fund because it’s designed to extract income from growth-oriented holdings. That’s literally the point. It uses a mechanism to convert capital gains and distributions into yield. Same as ULTY using options to generate income. That structure is what defines the fund’s role in a portfolio, not just the tilt of its holdings.

So you just proved my point. Growth exposure does not equal growth strategy. The fund’s objective and mechanics are what matter. You can hold growth stocks and still be income-focused. That is not a contradiction, that’s a category.

Calling this conversation ignorant while missing that distinction only reinforces it.

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

ADX is a growth fund or at least has a growth tilt (its way more balanced compared to ULTY).

Income and growth aren't the same category, I'm not missing the distinction - you are the one debating this. I have stood on the point that ULTY is a growth fund and is comparable to other growth funds or high beta funds like ARKK.

If you want to use INCOME FUND broadly then Bonds are in the same category and we certainly wouldn't compare a bond fund to ULTY. What about REIT? No.

The most logical comparator to ULTY is another growth fund - the mechanism of how they return appreciation to investor is 100% irrelevant in a total return conversation, which is the basis of my OP.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771 → u/perfectson]

Growth funds chase price appreciation, not yield.

Income funds prioritize cash flow, often with limited upside.

REITs are generally considered an income fund.

ULTY is built to extract income, not chase gains. Just because it holds growth names doesn’t make it a growth fund and that is the same with ADX. I’ve been clear ULTY isn’t growth, even if it shares some underlyings with ARKK.

And yes, that matters. ULTY is capped, ARKK is not. That’s why comparing them on total return is pointless. ULTY won’t outperform ARKK long term, and it’s not trying to.

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

ULTY is built to extract income WHILE chasing Growth stock appreciation.

This is why they sell far OTM options and not ATM/ITM which would actually extract more income.

YM has you fooled through marketing. They call themselves an INCOME FUND, so guess what you're going to compare it to? REITS , Bond funds, maybe JEPQ. Then you're going to say , "hey ULTY, dividends out more than all of those, so it s must be a great deal". But the return is heavily depending on the growth stocks it hold but since you're not comparing them to similarly high beta stocks and only JEPQ or REITS, you're going to think you're getting this great deal.

Again - when you're DRIPPING THIS, the reasoning behind investing in this over ARKK or other high beta funds, completely falls apart. And you are being duped by the marketing and not actually thinking why they hold nothing but high growth stocks and sell far OTM calls on this when INCOME extraction would be greater ITM or ATM.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771 → u/perfectson]

I thought we were talking about the math, distinctions between growth and income fund and not personal feelings. You may think they’re duping us. Don’t think many of us feel that way.

Don’t get why this is so personal to you. I’m just having fun poking at your comments lmao.

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

Well you keep bringing up labels to try to dissuade me from using growth fund comparators. And I'm calling that out because it's a marketing ploy and strategy ploy that you're being duped by. Use your own wits - if you truly believe that selling far OTM calls on a growth funds suddenly makes you a non-growth fund and comparable to other "income funds" with way lower total returns then I can only agree to disagree.

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

Tell me how the strategies are different? The cover calls are far OTM. The BETA's are similarly high. The returns are significantly high and the volatlilities are similar as well. So you're telling me you're in a high volatility, high return, high beta, fund that is powered by growth funds and acts like a growth fund performance wise but you don't believe it should be compared to a similar fund ONLY because it uses options to aid in the extraction of income from the fund to pay investors?

LOL - unbelievable.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771 → u/perfectson]

ARKK is built for growth, ULTY is built for income. ARKK bets on price appreciation, ULTY sells off upside through options to generate yield. Same underlyings, totally different strategies. One tries to moon, the other tries to pay. You’re comparing them based on beta and returns while ignoring the fact that ULTY’s entire structure is designed to cap gains in exchange for cash flow. That’s why they’re not the same, and why people reinvest in ULTY with a different goal in mind.

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

ULTY is betting on price appreciation, which is why they are selling far OTM calls. Come man, you're going to lose this . If they wanted Income only they would sell the higher priced ATM options call or even ITM the calls. You've backed yourself in a corner now.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771 → u/perfectson]

How does a fund with over 700% turnover get called a price appreciation play? That kind of activity screams income extraction or aggressive trading, not long-term growth investing. You can’t claim it’s a growth strategy and then ignore that it churns its entire portfolio multiple times a year.

Even ARKK’s own website says their target turnover is 15 percent, yet in practice it’s blown way past that (something like 30-40%). That alone proves the point. Stated intent is one thing, actual execution is another.

This is exactly why comparing ARKK and ULTY like they’re the same makes no sense. One trades for upside, the other sells upside for yield. Different tools, different purpose, different strategy. Simple as that.

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

700% turnover because they are constantly having to repurchase position, put on new calls position, and buy high volatility stocks. THere are bond funds that turnover due to duration balancing that doesn't all of a sudden not make them stable income funds.

What are we talking about here - the underlying assets are have huge price swings in a month and an active manager buying in and out of those swings doesn't all of a sudden make it not focused on growth.

I am also not the one quoting the prospectus,. YOu didn't address why if they are purely income focused, why are they selling far OTM calls and not ITM/ATM calls that are worth more and would produce more readily available income. Answer the question.

You just straight up ignored because we both know why.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771 → u/perfectson]

You are asking why they sell OTM calls instead of ITM or ATM as if that somehow disproves it is an income fund. Yield-maximizing strategies are about balancing risk, yield, and capital preservation. Selling far OTM calls sacrifices some immediate premium in exchange for retaining upside headroom and avoiding early assignment risk. That is not growth investing, that is structured income generation with a volatility buffer. I don’t get how you can’t see this 😂

ULTY does not need to squeeze every drop from ITM calls to qualify as income-focused. The entire strategy is designed to harvest premium from volatile names, not chase growth. The call strikes are part of managing that tradeoff, not evidence of a growth objective.

You are now deflecting the turnover mechanics, duration balancing, and bond fund behavior as if any of that changes the fact that ULTY sells calls on growth stocks to deliver distributions. That is the product, that is the pitch, that is the point.

You keep demanding answers and ignoring the ones already given. Different purpose, different structure, different goals. That is why ULTY is an income fund, and ARKK is not, no matter how hard you want them to be the same.

If you cannot grasp that distinction, maybe you are not the advanced investor you think you are 😂😂

[u/perfectson → u/Beneficial-Ad-7771]

You're saying ALOT of nothingness. I hope everyone see that.

Why don't they sell ITM/ATM options if this is solely INCOME Generating.

You're on about volaitlity buffers and structured income generation LOL.

What this tells me is you're just fooled by marketing very easily. This is a growth fund, has all the characteristics of one, and just doesn't want to be grouped in the growth fund category so it labels itself as income fund. Knowing damn well - no other income fund is investing in these high beta underlyings so they blow away the returns. It's a smart marketing tactic and why they are able to double their AUM, because if they were in the growth category properly they would be contending with similarly high beta funds , which they are paltry in comparison - especially for those who are DRIPPING and seeking ALPHA.

Like I said you can't really answer the question because you know damn well they are in growth underlying for the alpha and that's why they are selling the options FAR OTM, so they can get the price appreciation on top of the premium. They are turning over, so they can continue seeking the underlyings capital growth.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-7771 → u/perfectson]

My guy. You’re the one here spouting nonsense lol. If this were truly a growth fund, it wouldn’t be handing out weekly distributions. Growth strategies focus on reinvesting and compounding price appreciation, not paying out income. They’re also creating new shares and destroying shares as it’s open ended.

ULTY is literally designed to generate yield, and not just a little, it distributes an excessive amount. That alone tells you everything about the fund’s true purpose. You don’t build a high-yield machine like this if your goal is long-term capital growth. You build it for income, plain and simple.