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DFII FT Vest Bitcoin Strategy & Target Income ETF

Option income on IBIT, paying monthly

Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, DFII paid 11.5% in cash and still finished 1.5 points behind IBIT.

First Trust · Income ETFs · data as of

Key facts

11.5%Cash paid, 1 year, on its starting price
−32.5%Total return, 1 year
−1.5 ptsAgainst IBIT
17.4%Latest payout, annualized

Method

ETFIQ Return Stability Score

32.1142nd of 173

DFII paid 11.5% in cash. Its price fell 43.7%, so 100% of what you were paid came back out of your own capital.

Was the payout funded by returns, or by your own capital?

Against its benchmark
MLPD −35.8 ptsMDST −28.6 ptsEIPI −26.8 ptsBLOX −26.6 ptsYQQQ −25.3 ptsULTY −24.3 ptsSLTY −22.7 ptsGDXY −21.4 ptsTDVI −20.9 ptsTOPW −19.8 ptsHIGH −18.8 ptsACKY −17.9 ptsYMAX −16.8 ptsHISF −16.4 ptsNDIV −16.4 ptsSDVD −16.4 ptsWEEI −15.8 ptsOARK −15.2 ptsFDND −14.1 ptsSCLZ −14.0 ptsLFGY −13.6 ptsXLRI −13.6 ptsTCAL −13.5 ptsQRMI −13.3 ptsSLJY −13.2 ptsYYY −13.2 ptsYFYA −13.1 ptsHIPS −12.8 ptsJULH −12.1 ptsRNTY −12.0 ptsXLKI −12.0 ptsXBTY −11.8 ptsQUSA −11.7 ptsJULJ −11.5 ptsLJUL −11.5 ptsJANJ −11.4 ptsLJAN −11.4 ptsFGSI −11.3 ptsLOCT −11.2 ptsQLDY −11.2 ptsOCTJ −11.1 ptsCVRD −11.0 ptsIWMY −10.9 ptsJUCY −10.9 ptsAPRJ −10.5 ptsLAPR −10.5 ptsXISE −10.5 ptsXIJN −10.3 ptsAPRH −10.1 ptsJANH −10.1 ptsXIDE −10.1 ptsXLEI −10.0 ptsOCTH −9.9 ptsJEPI −9.5 ptsAIPI −9.4 ptsMAGY −9.4 ptsBAGY −9.2 ptsXIMR −9.1 ptsSRHR −8.8 ptsBUYW −8.1 ptsRDVI −8.0 ptsIAUI −7.7 ptsOVLH −7.5 ptsVEGA −7.2 ptsXV −7.1 ptsYBTC −7.1 ptsFTHI −6.9 ptsBITY −6.7 ptsXLVI −6.7 ptsXRMI −6.3 ptsIGLD −6.2 ptsFEPI −6.1 ptsYLDE −6.0 ptsGPTY −5.7 ptsKHPI −5.5 ptsQQQI −5.3 ptsSPIN −5.2 ptsTYLG −5.2 ptsSPUT −5.1 ptsETCO −4.8 ptsWTPI −4.6 ptsCAIE −4.1 ptsIQQQ −4.1 ptsPAPI −3.8 ptsBIGY −3.6 ptsJEPQ −3.2 ptsXLBI −3.2 ptsISPY −3.1 ptsIWMW −3.0 ptsWEEL −2.3 ptsGIAX −2.1 ptsDIVO −2.0 ptsKNG −1.6 ptsQDTY −1.6 ptsRDTY −1.5 ptsTSPY −1.5 ptsYMAG −1.5 ptsBTCC −1.4 ptsNBOS −1.4 ptsNIHI −1.4 ptsEGGY −1.2 ptsSPYI −1.2 ptsRYLD −1.1 ptsRYLG −1.0 ptsXDTE −1.0 ptsXPAY −0.9 ptsSDTY −0.8 ptsWDTE −0.8 ptsJOYT −0.7 ptsQDTE −0.7 ptsKGLD −0.6 ptsQQQY −0.6 ptsRDTE −0.6 ptsTHTA −0.6 ptsXLII −0.6 ptsFTKI −0.5 ptsGPIQ −0.4 ptsFTQI −0.3 ptsSIXH −0.3 ptsDJIA +0.2 ptsLTTI +0.2 ptsDYLG +0.3 ptsGPIX +0.4 ptsXLFI +0.4 ptsQYLG +0.5 ptsHYBI +0.6 ptsHYTI +0.6 ptsIVVW +0.6 ptsLQTI +0.6 ptsXYLG +0.7 ptsTDAQ +1.0 ptsIWMI +1.1 ptsQYLD +1.2 ptsCSHI +1.3 ptsTLTX +1.3 ptsXYLD +1.4 ptsHYGW +1.5 ptsHYBL +1.6 ptsBNDI +1.7 ptsOVS +1.7 ptsPBP +1.9 ptsTLTI +1.9 ptsXLUI +1.9 ptsBALI +2.0 ptsBTCI +2.0 ptsCHPY +2.3 ptsOVB +2.3 ptsOVT +2.3 ptsYBIT +2.3 ptsITWO +2.4 ptsOVL +2.6 ptsYETH +2.8 ptsOVM +2.9 ptsTLTP +3.0 ptsSOXY +3.5 ptsDUBS +3.7 ptsLQDW +3.8 ptsXLYI +4.1 ptsTLTW +4.2 ptsOVF +4.5 ptsDOGG +4.6 ptsOMAH +4.9 ptsIDVO +5.2 ptsSEPI +5.2 ptsBCCC +5.9 ptsCEPI +6.0 ptsIDUB +7.2 ptsXLCI +7.9 ptsBUCK +9.6 ptsUSOY +11.6 ptsXLSI +12.5 ptsKLIP +22.5 ptsDFII −1.5 ptsDFII −1.5 pts−35.8 pts+22.5 pts

56.4% of the 173 sit at or below DFII on this measure.

What happened to the principal
ETCO −75.5%XBTY −74.1%YETH −66.4%YBTC −60.1%BTCC −59.1%YBIT −58.9%BAGY −57.9%ULTY −54.1%BITY −51.5%SLTY −51.5%BCCC −48.5%BTCI −47.0%LFGY −44.7%BLOX −40.9%YMAX −40.7%TOPW −37.7%OARK −34.0%GDXY −33.1%KLIP −32.5%YMAG −28.1%YQQQ −25.7%MAGY −25.3%IWMY −24.9%CEPI −22.5%RDTY −21.8%RDTE −21.4%QLDY −20.3%QDTE −19.2%TLTX −18.5%EGGY −16.2%XLYI −15.5%ACKY −15.1%WDTE −14.8%QDTY −14.0%AIPI −13.8%TLTP −13.4%XDTE −13.4%QQQY −13.2%LTTI −12.6%XLUI −11.3%QUSA −11.0%SDTY −10.8%GIAX −10.5%FEPI −10.0%TLTW −9.9%LQTI −9.7%XLRI −9.4%TLTI −9.1%LQDW −8.8%XLCI −8.8%XV −8.8%YYY −8.8%TCAL −8.6%HIGH −8.3%FDND −8.2%GPTY −8.1%IGLD −7.9%RNTY −7.3%HIPS −7.0%HYTI −6.8%XLSI −6.5%OMAH −6.3%XLBI −6.3%IWMW −6.2%XLFI −6.2%HYGW −6.0%XPAY −5.8%HYBI −5.5%OVB −5.0%BNDI −4.9%USOY −4.8%HISF −4.7%OVT −4.3%QRMI −3.8%OVM −3.6%FGSI −3.2%HYBL −2.8%CAIE −2.5%JUCY −2.5%XRMI −2.4%BUCK −2.2%CVRD −2.2%MLPD −2.1%IAUI −2.0%IVVW −2.0%YFYA −1.7%JEPI −1.2%XLII −1.2%XIJN −0.9%WTPI −0.8%JULJ −0.6%XISE −0.6%CSHI −0.4%JULH −0.4%KNG −0.4%BIGY −0.3%LJUL −0.3%QQQI −0.1%TSPY −0.1%JANH 0.0%JANJ 0.0%LAPR 0.0%OCTH 0.0%XIDE 0.0%APRJ +0.1%LJAN +0.1%LOCT +0.1%OCTJ +0.1%APRH +0.3%FTHI +0.3%XIMR +0.5%WEEL +0.7%SRHR +1.0%SDVD +1.2%SPYI +1.2%IWMI +1.3%KHPI +1.5%BUYW +2.1%DJIA +2.4%QYLG +2.4%XYLG +2.6%YLDE +2.6%NIHI +2.8%RYLD +2.9%KGLD +3.4%TDAQ +3.4%DYLG +3.5%FTKI +3.8%XLVI +4.0%SCLZ +4.1%THTA +4.1%RYLG +4.2%PAPI +4.5%XLKI +4.6%PBP +5.5%JEPQ +5.7%SPIN +5.8%XYLD +5.9%NBOS +6.0%SPUT +6.0%DIVO +7.3%GPIX +7.4%ISPY +7.6%DOGG +8.0%FTQI +8.0%MDST +8.2%TDVI +8.2%OVF +8.3%OVS +8.5%OVLH +8.8%VEGA +8.9%QYLD +9.1%BALI +9.2%GPIQ +9.3%OVL +9.4%RDVI +9.6%ITWO +10.5%IQQQ +10.8%SLJY +12.3%EIPI +12.8%XLEI +12.8%SEPI +13.4%SIXH +14.1%IDVO +14.4%JOYT +15.2%WEEI +17.3%IDUB +17.4%DUBS +17.6%NDIV +20.4%CHPY +20.6%TYLG +20.6%SOXY +64.1%DFII −43.7%DFII −43.7%−75.5%+64.1%

7.8% of the 173 sit at or below DFII on this measure.

Weighted evenly, those two positions are what the score combines, across the 173 income ETFs writing on an index or proxy. Neither spread above is the score: a fund can sit further right on one and score lower. A position in this set, not a rating: it moves when the set moves, and it is not a figure to average against another desk's.

What the score is computed from
What it measuresThis fundIts percentileWeight
against its benchmark−1.5 pts56.450%
what happened to the principal−43.7%7.850%

All income ETFs ranked by this score · How it is computed

What a holder got

DFII against IBITDFII returned −32.5% with distributions reinvested against −31.1% for Bitcoin (IBIT), a gap of −1.5 pts. Of that, 11.5% arrived as cash rather than price.−32.5%DFII total return−31.1%Bitcoin (IBIT)

Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, DFII returned −32.5% with distributions reinvested and Bitcoin (IBIT) returned −31.1%, so a holder came out behind it by 1.5 points. The lighter segment is the 11.5% that arrived as cash rather than as price.

Its ten largest equity positions

DFII top ten by weight, 100.0% of its 8 equity positions, from the holdings published by its issuer for Sep 18, 2026. The options the fund writes are not positions of this kind and are not listed. Source: the issuer’s own daily file.
HoldingTickerWeight
2026-09-30 S&P 500® Mini Index P 2,997.64XSP 260930P029976401283.75%
US Dollar$USD0.98%
2026-09-30 iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF C 44IBIT 260930C000499400.46%
2026-09-30 S&P 500® Mini Index C 2,810.24XSP 260930C028102900.01%
2026-09-30 S&P 500® Mini Index C 2,997.64XSP 260930C02997640-0.01%
2026-09-25 iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF C 44IBIT 260925C00046020-0.36%
2026-09-30 iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF P 44IBIT 260930P00049940-8.84%
2026-09-30 S&P 500® Mini Index P 2,810.24XSP 260930P02810290-1175.99%

Method

Period by period

DFII over each window to Sep 18, 2026. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation. Source: ETFIQ.
WindowCash paidPriceTotal returnIBITAhead or behind
3 months4.7%+18.1%+23.6%+29.2%−5.6 pts
6 months8.4%+1.0%+10.5%+15.7%−5.2 pts
1 year11.5%−43.7%−32.5%−31.1%−1.5 pts
Since launch24.3%−27.0%−5.6%−1.2%−4.4 pts

Method

When DFII pays

DFII pays monthly. The last distribution was $0.202 a share, which went ex on Sep 1, 2026, with payment about 2 days later. The next has not been declared. On its own cadence of about 30 days the ex-date falls near Oct 1, 2026; that date is an ETFIQ projection, not the issuer’s.

Expected distributions for DFII. Where the basis is a projection, ETFIQ has carried the fund’s own spacing forward from its last ex-date and held the amount at the last one paid; neither is an issuer statement. Source: ETFIQ.
Ex-datePay dateAmountBasis
Oct 1, 2026Oct 5, 2026$0.202ETFIQ projection
Nov 2, 2026Nov 4, 2026$0.202ETFIQ projection
Every distribution ETFIQ holds for DFII (13, most recent first)
Cash distributions per share for DFII. Source: ETFIQ from Tiingo end-of-day distributions.
Ex-dateAmount
Sep 1, 2026$0.202
Aug 3, 2026$0.1783
Jul 1, 2026$0.1686
Jun 1, 2026$0.2077
May 1, 2026$0.2139
Apr 1, 2026$0.1942
Mar 2, 2026$0.1995
Feb 2, 2026$0.2494
Jan 2, 2026$0.2632
Dec 1, 2025$0.2758
Nov 3, 2025$0.3296
Oct 1, 2025$0.3664
Sep 2, 2025$0.372

Every income ETF going ex-dividend in the next fortnight

Method

In plain words

Since it launched on Apr 3, 2025, DFII has returned −5.6% with distributions reinvested, against −1.2% for Bitcoin (IBIT), and has paid out 24.3% of its starting value in cash along the way. It pays monthly, and at its current price the latest distribution annualizes to 17.4%. No Rule 19a-1 notice has been published for this fund, so there is no issuer estimate of how much of its distributions was a return of capital.

DFII (FT Vest Bitcoin Strategy & Target Income ETF), income ETFs fields as of Sep 18, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
Strategyoption income
BenchmarkBitcoin (IBIT) (proxy)
Paysmonthly
Net assets (issuer page, as of Sep 18, 2026)$21m
Latest payout, annualized (ETFIQ)17.4%
Expense ratio (485BPOS XBRL, Apr 30, 2026)0.85%
Cash paid, last 12 months, over today’s price (ETFIQ)20.4%
LaunchedApr 3, 2025
Paysmonthly
Typical gap between ex-dates30 days
Typical wait from ex-date to payment2 days
Last paid, per share$0.202 ex Sep 1, 2026
Sum of the last 12 distributions$2.8486

Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation from exchange prices and cash distributions (Tiingo end-of-day), total return with distributions reinvested. Return of capital is the issuer’s estimate. How these figures are computed

Questions people ask

How much has DFII paid over the last year?
Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, DFII paid 11.5% of its starting price in cash distributions, while the price fell 43.7%.
Is DFII ahead of IBIT?
Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, with every distribution reinvested, DFII returned −32.5% against −31.1% for Bitcoin (IBIT), so a holder was behind it by 1.5 points.
How often does DFII pay, and how much?
DFII pays monthly. The latest distribution annualizes to 17.4% at its price on Sep 18, 2026, which is not a promise; the next one can differ.
When does DFII next pay a distribution?
DFII pays monthly. The last distribution went ex on Sep 1, 2026 at $0.202 a share. The next is not declared; on a cadence of about 30 days the ex-date falls near Oct 1, 2026, which is an ETFIQ projection. Payment usually follows the ex-date by 2 days.
What does DFII cost?
The prospectus expense ratio is 0.85% a year.

The words on this page

Total return
What a holder actually ended up with: price change plus every distribution, reinvested. The only figure that answers whether you came out ahead.
Cash paid
Distributions over the window as a share of what the fund cost at the start. A measure of cash delivered, not of return: a fund can pay a great deal and still lose money.
Ahead or behind
The fund’s total return minus the benchmark’s over exactly the same days, in percentage points. Both sides reinvest.
Return of capital
The issuer’s own estimate, in a Rule 19a-1 notice, of how much of a distribution was your own money returned. An estimate and a tax characterization, not a measure of erosion.
Covered call
Selling call options on shares the fund holds. It collects a premium and gives up the gains above the strike, which is why these funds pay well and lag a rising market.

Every term used here, defined in full on the income ETFs vocabulary page.

Where these figures came from

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.

Compare DFII

Also against BLOX, BPI, BTCC, BTCI, CEPI, EHCC, EHY, ETCO, ETTY, LFGY, NEHI, SOLM, XBCI, XBTY, XEY, XRPM, YBIT, YBTC, YETH.

Funds near this one

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DFII payout bar, ETFIQ

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Where DFII is written about

DFII, Income ETFs, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 18, 2026. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. ETFIQ is an independent publisher, is not a fund issuer, broker-dealer or investment adviser, and makes no recommendations.
Use this data, or open the live card

Open DFII live on ETFIQ, where the figures refresh with the data.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, DFII, income ETFs, data as of Sep 18, 2026. https://etfiq.com/funds/dfii Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

How these figures are computed · Standards and sources