YieldMax Group A 2026 Dividend Schedule: Full Monthly Ex-Date & Pay Date Calendar
If you’re investing in YieldMax ETFs, keeping track of the annual dividend calendar ahead of time is essential for managing your cash flow. In this post, I’ve compiled the complete 2026 monthly ex-dividend dates, record dates, and pay dates for all 12 YieldMax Group A ETFs so you can see everything at a glance.
YieldMax divides its ETFs into four groups — A, B, C, and D — based on when dividends are paid. Group A pays out during the first week of each month, and it includes some of the most popular tickers like TSLY, CONY, and APLY. That makes it the group that gets the most attention from income-focused investors.
What Is YieldMax Group A?
YieldMax ETFs are a series of synthetic covered call strategy ETFs managed by Tidal Financial Group. They take individual stocks or ETFs as underlying assets, sell call options against them, and distribute the option premium as monthly dividends to shareholders.
Group A is the first group to pay dividends in the YieldMax dividend cycle. Ex-dividend dates are typically set on the first Thursday of each month, and pay dates usually fall on the following Monday. For investors running a dividend relay strategy across all four groups, Group A kicks off each month’s income stream.
Group A: All 12 ETFs at a Glance
Here are the 12 ETFs included in Group A, along with their underlying assets:
| # | Ticker | Underlying | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TSLY | TSLA | Tesla Covered Call |
| 2 | OARK | ARKK | ARK Innovation Covered Call |
| 3 | APLY | AAPL | Apple Covered Call |
| 4 | FBY | META | Meta Covered Call |
| 5 | CONY | COIN | Coinbase Covered Call |
| 6 | NFLY | NFLX | Netflix Covered Call |
| 7 | AMDY | AMD | AMD Covered Call |
| 8 | PYPY | PYPL | PayPal Covered Call |
| 9 | SQY | SQ | Block (Square) Covered Call |
| 10 | MRNY | MRNA | Moderna Covered Call |
| 11 | MARO | MAR | Marriott Covered Call |
| 12 | ABNY | ABNB | Airbnb Covered Call |
The higher the volatility of the underlying asset, the larger the option premium tends to be, which generally translates to higher dividends. TSLY (Tesla), CONY (Coinbase), and MRNY (Moderna) are among the highest-yielding tickers, while APLY (Apple) and MARO (Marriott) offer more stability but lower distribution rates.
2026 Group A Monthly Dividend Calendar
Below is the full 12-month dividend schedule for Group A in 2026. The pattern follows the first Thursday of each month for ex-dividend dates.
| Month | Ex-Date | Record Date | Pay Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1/2 (Thu) | 1/2 (Thu) | 1/6 (Mon) |
| February | 2/5 (Thu) | 2/5 (Thu) | 2/9 (Mon) |
| March | 3/5 (Thu) | 3/5 (Thu) | 3/9 (Mon) |
| April | 4/3 (Thu) | 4/3 (Thu) | 4/7 (Mon) |
| May | 5/1 (Thu) | 5/1 (Thu) | 5/5 (Mon) |
| June | 6/5 (Thu) | 6/5 (Thu) | 6/9 (Mon) |
| July | 7/3 (Thu) | 7/3 (Thu) | 7/7 (Mon) |
| August | 8/6 (Thu) | 8/6 (Thu) | 8/10 (Mon) |
| September | 9/3 (Thu) | 9/3 (Thu) | 9/8 (Mon) |
| October | 10/2 (Thu) | 10/2 (Thu) | 10/6 (Mon) |
| November | 11/5 (Thu) | 11/5 (Thu) | 11/10 (Mon) |
| December | 12/4 (Thu) | 12/4 (Thu) | 12/8 (Mon) |
Note: Ex-dividend dates may shift by 1~2 days around U.S. holidays (e.g., Independence Day, Thanksgiving). Always confirm with official YieldMax filings before making investment decisions.
When Do I Need to Buy to Receive the Dividend?
This is one of the most common questions among YieldMax investors, and the rule is straightforward:
You must buy and hold the ETF by market close on the business day before the ex-dividend date.
For example, if the April ex-date is April 3 (Thursday), you need to complete your purchase by April 2 (Wednesday) before the U.S. market closes. Since U.S. equities settle on a T+1 basis, buying on April 2 means settlement completes on April 3, qualifying you for the dividend.
If you buy on the ex-date itself (April 3), you will NOT receive that month’s dividend.
Monthly Purchase Deadlines
| Month | Ex-Date | Last Day to Buy (Prior Business Day) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1/2 (Thu) | 12/31 (Wed) - 2025 |
| February | 2/5 (Thu) | 2/4 (Wed) |
| March | 3/5 (Thu) | 3/4 (Wed) |
| April | 4/3 (Thu) | 4/2 (Wed) |
| May | 5/1 (Thu) | 4/30 (Wed) |
| June | 6/5 (Thu) | 6/4 (Wed) |
| July | 7/3 (Thu) | 7/2 (Wed) |
| August | 8/6 (Thu) | 8/5 (Wed) |
| September | 9/3 (Thu) | 9/2 (Wed) |
| October | 10/2 (Thu) | 10/1 (Wed) |
| November | 11/5 (Thu) | 11/4 (Wed) |
| December | 12/4 (Thu) | 12/3 (Wed) |
Group A ETF Investment Profiles
The 12 Group A ETFs can be broadly categorized into three types based on the characteristics of their underlying assets.
High Volatility, High Yield
- TSLY (Tesla): Tesla’s extreme volatility generates some of the highest option premiums in Group A. However, when the underlying drops hard, NAV erosion can be equally severe.
- CONY (Coinbase): Directly tied to crypto market sentiment, CONY offers the highest yields in Group A but also carries the most principal risk. Coinbase stock can swing wildly with Bitcoin prices.
- MRNY (Moderna): Leverages the biotech sector’s inherent volatility. News-driven price swings make this more suitable for investors comfortable with short-term uncertainty.
Moderate Volatility
- AMDY (AMD): Offers a blend of semiconductor sector growth and reasonable volatility for solid premium generation.
- SQY (Block): The fintech play with crypto exposure through Block’s Bitcoin holdings, which can boost volatility and dividends.
- FBY (Meta): Meta’s ongoing AI investments keep volatility elevated enough for consistent premium income.
- OARK (ARK Innovation): Diversified across multiple innovative companies, offering slightly lower individual stock risk.
- NFLY (Netflix): Earnings seasons can produce big volatility spikes, leading to significant quarter-to-quarter variation in payouts.
Low Volatility, Stability-Focused
- APLY (Apple): As a blue-chip mega-cap, Apple’s lower volatility means lower yields, but also more NAV stability. A solid pick for conservative income seekers.
- PYPY (PayPal): A fintech large-cap with mid-to-lower yields but limited downside in calmer markets.
- MARO (Marriott): A hospitality sector blue-chip. Lowest yields in Group A but among the most stable underlying assets.
- ABNY (Airbnb): A travel platform large-cap whose dividends fluctuate with seasonal travel demand and earnings.
What Is the Dividend Relay Strategy?
One of YieldMax’s most powerful features is that Groups A, B, C, and D pay dividends on alternating weeks. This means you can effectively build a portfolio that generates weekly income.
Here’s the basic structure:
| Week | Dividend Group | Key Tickers |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Group A | TSLY, CONY, APLY |
| Week 2 | Group B | NVDY, MSTY, GOOGY |
| Week 3 | Group C | YMAX, YMAG, etc. |
| Week 4 | Group D | MSFO, PLTY, etc. |
By investing across all four groups, you receive dividends four times a month — essentially weekly income. Keep in mind, though, that spreading your capital across more ETFs means each individual dividend payment is smaller.
Tax Considerations and Risks
U.S. Withholding Tax
YieldMax ETF dividends are subject to U.S. withholding tax. The standard rate for most international investors depends on your country’s tax treaty with the U.S. For many countries, this is 15~30% withheld at source. U.S. residents will owe ordinary income tax on distributions.
NAV Erosion Risk
Covered call ETFs have a structural limitation: when the underlying asset surges, your upside is capped by the sold calls. When it drops, your NAV falls with it. High dividend yields do not guarantee positive total returns. Always monitor your total return (dividends received minus NAV decline) rather than focusing solely on yield.
Dividend Variability
Monthly distributions are NOT fixed. They fluctuate based on option premium levels, underlying asset price movements, and market volatility (VIX). In periods of low volatility or sideways markets, dividends can drop significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the share price drop on the ex-dividend date?
Yes, generally the price adjusts downward by approximately the dividend amount on the ex-date. Since YieldMax ETFs pay monthly, the per-dividend drop tends to be modest, but it can be noticeable during high-payout months.
Can I invest in Group A along with other groups?
Absolutely. In fact, diversifying across multiple groups increases your dividend frequency and can improve cash flow management. I’d recommend selecting 2~3 tickers from each group rather than trying to hold every single ETF, which can become unwieldy to manage.
Monthly Deep-Dive Articles
For detailed breakdowns of actual dividend amounts and per-ETF performance each month, check out these monthly analysis posts:
- April Group A Dividend Detailed Analysis
- May detailed analysis (coming soon)
- June detailed analysis (coming soon)
I update these monthly analysis posts as soon as new dividend declarations are announced. Bookmark them for easy reference.
2026 Annual Calendars for Other Groups
Check out the annual dividend calendars for YieldMax’s other groups as well:
Final Thoughts
I’ve laid out the complete 2026 YieldMax Group A dividend schedule month by month. Group A delivers dividends during the first week of each month, making it the ideal starting point for investors who want their income stream to begin right at the top of each month.
That said, YieldMax ETFs come with real risks — NAV erosion and dividend variability are the two biggest factors to keep in mind. Rather than chasing yield alone, I’d encourage you to take a holistic view that includes the underlying asset outlook, portfolio allocation, and your overall financial plan.
This article is updated whenever dividend schedules change or new information becomes available. For the most accurate investment decisions, always cross-reference with the official YieldMax website and your brokerage’s filings.
When does YieldMax Group A pay dividends each month?
Group A pays dividends during the first week of each month. The ex-dividend date typically falls on the first Thursday, and the pay date is 2~3 business days later.
Where can I find the 2026 Group A dividend schedule?
You can check the annual dividend calendar on the official YieldMax website. This article also provides a complete month-by-month breakdown of ex-dates and pay dates.
Can the dividend schedule change?
Yes, ex-dividend and pay dates may shift by 1~2 days due to U.S. holidays or market conditions. Always verify with official filings before making investment decisions.