- As of Nov 4, 2026, 105 income ETFs write options on single stocks, and the median GraniteShares fund has 95% of its latest payout labelled return of capital.
In plain words
A single-stock income ETF earns cash by writing options, such as covered calls, on one company’s shares and pays out the option income. Its result depends on that one stock, so swings can be large.
105 of 353 read funds write on single stocks, and among GraniteShares funds the median latest estimate is 95% return of capital. That is a tax label for where a payment came from; it does not by itself say the fund lost value. Compare cash paid with the price change over the same dates, shown on each fund page.
Questions
- Why are single-stock income yields so high?
The options give up much of the stock’s upside in return for cash now. The cash is high, and the gain is capped.
- What is return of capital?
The part of a payment that is not income or realized gains. It lowers your cost basis.
- How do I compare these funds?
Use total return over the same window, and the gap to the stock itself.