Two of the market's most popular income ETFs compared side-by-side. See which one fits your yield strategy.
What this means: AMRFX is ratedTier 1 (Cornerstone)while QYLD is ratedTier 4 (Harvest).AMRFX is structurally lower risk than QYLD.
| Metric | AMRFX | QYLD |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 28.54% | 11.51% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | 3.10% | -0.50% |
| Max Drawdown | -20.35% | -20.58% |
| Beta | - | 0.78 |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
AMRFX (American Funds American Mutual F2) is a conservative dividend growth fund managed by American Funds. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With significant capital, this fund has been operational since its inception.
Strategy: Focuses on quality dividend-paying companies with strong balance sheets and consistent payout histories.
QYLD (Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call) is a options-based income fund managed by GlobalX. It tracks the Nasdaq-100 index across approximately 103 positions. With $8.2B in assets under management, this fund has been operational since Dec 2013.
Strategy: Generates enhanced income through covered call options on equity holdings, trading upside potential for premium income.
In the head-to-head battle of AMRFX vs QYLD, the choice depends on your specific goal. AMRFX wins for Immediate Income with a 25.44% yield. However, AMRFX is the better choice for Long-Term Growth due to superior total return performance.
Which fund is safer for retirement income? We analyze the yield sustainability and structural risk.
The Bottom Line Question: If you invest $100,000 today, how much cash will you actually receive each month? Here's the exact math:
AMRFX
Annual Yield: 25.44%
$2,120/mo
($25,439/year)
Frequency: quarterly
QYLD
Annual Yield: 12.01%
$1,001/mo
($12,007/year)
Frequency: monthly
Income Gap: AMRFX generates $13,432/year more than QYLD on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $268,645 in additional cash flow (before reinvestment).
Context Matters: Higher income doesn't always mean better investment. Review the "Yield Trap" and "Total Return" sections above—you want income that's sustainable, not just headline-grabbing.
Historical data reveals how these funds behave during market stress. AMRFX has delivered a superior Total Return of 28.54% over the past year.
Every investor has a unique risk profile. Use our Portfolio Intelligence tool to see the impact of adding these ETFs to your holdings.