NEOS Gold High Income ETF

IAUI

Market cap $353M

Gold prices tumbled last week, belying the asset's historical reputation as a safe-haven destination during times of geopolitical strife. As just one example, the largest ETF backed by physical holdings of the commodity posted a weekly slide of 10.51%.

Market-wide risk-off sentiment is driving declines across major indices, high-growth stocks, REITs, small caps, BDCs, gold etc. Covered call ETFs present a potential hedge, offering defensive positioning and income amid elevated volatility and interest rates. Most covered call ETFs fail to deliver on their promise due to persistent losses, falling dividends, and opportunity costs during market rebounds.

WESTPORT, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NEOS Investments, an award-winning ETF provider specializing in options-based income solutions, today announced the NEOS Gold High Income ETF (IAUI) has won “Best New Options Income ETF” at the 2026 ETF.com Awards. IAUI seeks high monthly income from a data-driven call option strategy and the potential for capital appreciation from exposure to physical gold. “This award is a testament to the loyalty of our investors as well as NEOS' goal of being a solutions pr.

Discover the essential 'two qualifiers' that determine if a high-yield strategy is the right fit for your retirement goals. Learn the four-pillar framework for identifying sustainable dividends and avoiding common yield traps that lead to capital loss. Explore a diversified selection of high-income opportunities across numerous sectors of individual stocks, ETFs, and CEFs to bolster your monthly cash flow.

Gold pays no income. That is the trade-off every investor accepts when they buy a traditional gold ETF.

Market uncertainty and elevated risks favor defensive positioning over growth-focused indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100. Because of all of this uncertainty, the overall volatility levels have increased, making option-based strategies more attractive. I see a huge merit in deploying capital into OTM covered calls, which strike the balance between defense and exposure to rich option premium income.

I expect gold to reach $6,000/oz by mid-2026, driven by shifting macro factors and central bank accumulation. Combining IAUI and GDXJ offers both high yield (~7%) and leveraged exposure to gold price growth. A 50/50 IAUI+GDXJ portfolio achieved a 46.65% 6-month return, outperforming spot gold and balancing yield with capital appreciation.

Gold's indomitable run has carried over into 2026 and the stars are aligning for more upside. Attribute some of that bull case to strong gold ETF inflows around the world.

In any given year, hundreds of new ETFs come to market. One fund that stood out in 2025 is the NEOS Gold High Income ETF (IAUI), which debuted last June.

Volatility and dispersion are the likely key themes for 2026. The sky-high valuations and increasingly shaky economic/financial fundamentals support that view. At the same time, the market's "put mechanism," which has made the buy-the-dip strategy work since really the GFC, has not disappeared.