Data as of Nov 4, 2026.
MDST vs WEPN: Dividend Yield & Total Return
MDST and WEPN both write options for income.
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Net assets on Jul 31, 2026: $287m for Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF and $6.1m for Nicholas Defense and Rare Earth Income ETF.
9.1 pts behind ENFR
MDST over 1 year: paid 10.8%, price +11.5%, total +22.6%, ENFR +31.7%, −9.1 pts. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ENFR
+31.7%
MDST
+22.6%
10.8% as cash
9.1 pts behind ENFR
Total return, distributions reinvested
9.1 pts behind ENFR
MDST over 1 year: paid 10.8%, price +11.5%, total +22.6%, ENFR +31.7%, −9.1 pts. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ENFR
+31.7%
MDST
+22.6%
9.1 pts behind ENFR
10.8% of it arrived as cash. Total return, distributions reinvested. MDST over 1 year: paid 10.8%, price +11.5%, total +22.6%, ENFR +31.7%, −9.1 pts. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
Data to Nov 4, 2026.Not measured
WEPN since launch: paid 7.4%, price −24.4%, total −17.8%, not measured against a benchmark. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
WEPN
−17.8%
Total return, distributions reinvested
Not measured
WEPN since launch: paid 7.4%, price −24.4%, total −17.8%, not measured against a benchmark. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
WEPN
−17.8%
7.4% of it arrived as cash. Both charts share one scale, with zero at the line. WEPN since launch: paid 7.4%, price −24.4%, total −17.8%, not measured against a benchmark. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
Data to Nov 4, 2026.Pair scorecard
MDST costs 0.31 points a year less; MDST is far larger, $287m against $6.1m.
Points (pts) are percentage points.
| Measure | MDST | WEPN |
|---|---|---|
| Paid and earned | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +22.6% | not published |
| Price change | rose 11.5% (1 year) | fell 16.9% (6 months) |
| Return of capital, issuer estimate | 100% of the Oct 5, 2026 payment | 100% of the Oct 28, 2026 payment |
| Against its benchmark | ||
| Benchmark | Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF, measured through ENFR | its own holdings |
| Against its benchmark, same days | behind by 9.1 pts | behind by 5.9 pts |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.80% | 1.11% |
| Net assets, as of Jul 31, 2026 | $287m | $6.1m |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | 0% | |
What they share
By the books each fund has filed, MDST and WEPN hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight. Holdings dated Jul 31, 2026.
half
0% in common
Only in one fund ↓
Side by side
As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ. Cash paid: distributions over the window, as a share of the starting price. Payout rate: the latest payment, annualized, over today’s price.
Window by window
| Total return | Cash paid | Against the benchmark | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window | MDST | WEPN | MDST | WEPN | MDST | WEPN |
| 3 months | −0.5% | −12.2% | 2.4% | 2.9% | +0.7 pts | −4.0 pts |
| 6 months | +1.9% | −11.8% | 4.7% | 5.8% | +0.6 pts | −5.9 pts |
| 1 year | +22.6% | – | 10.8% | – | −9.1 pts | – |
| Since launchNot the same days: MDST Apr 2024 · WEPN Mar 2026 | +44.5% | −17.8% | 27.9% | 7.4% | −21.5 pts | not measured |
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MDST
Over the year to Nov 4, 2026, MDST paid 10.8% of its starting value in cash distributions while its price rose 11.5%. With every distribution reinvested, the fund returned +22.6%. Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR) returned +31.7% over the same days, so a holder was behind by 9.1 pts. At its price on Nov 4, 2026 the latest distribution annualizes to 9.7%, paid monthly. Westwood estimates that 100% of the distribution paid Oct 5, 2026 was a return of capital (its 19a-1 notice). That is a tax label, not a measure of erosion.
WEPN's own holdings, without the options (from its filed holdings, rebalanced at each filing; latest Jul 31, 2026) returned −5.9% over the same days, so a holder was behind by 5.9 pts.
Over the 6 months to Nov 4, 2026, WEPN paid 5.8% of its starting value in cash distributions while its price fell 16.9%. With every distribution reinvested, the fund returned −11.8%. At its price on Nov 4, 2026 the latest distribution annualizes to 13.1%, paid weekly. Nicholas estimates that 100% of the distribution paid Oct 28, 2026 was a return of capital (its 19a-1 notice).
Questions people ask
Links are sources, not endorsements. A comparison is not a recommendation.
How this is computed
Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for each security both funds hold.
Every number is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested.
Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown
ETFIQ, MDST against WEPN, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/income/mdst-vs-wepn
ETFIQ. (Nov 4, 2026). MDST against WEPN. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/income/mdst-vs-wepn
[MDST against WEPN (ETFIQ, Nov 4, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/income/mdst-vs-wepn)
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