Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF

RYLD

Market cap $1.32B

RYLD is a passive ETF that adopts a covered call strategy on the small-cap segment, which today generates over 11% in distributions. The covered call strategy makes RYLD, in my opinion, an excellent hedge during bearish phases in the small-cap market. However, it does not seem to have been able to best represent bullish phases.

We're not even two weeks into 2026, and vanilla investors have already lost the plot. Their blindness has tossed 3 cheap—and growing—dividends into our laps.

Covered-call strategies can be an income investors' best friend. Whether the broader stock market goes up, down or merely grinds sideways, selling covered calls pays.

Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF is downgraded to 'Hold' due to underperformance vs. peers and declining payouts. RYLD offers a high 12% yield and monthly distributions, but its ATM covered call strategy caps upside and limits recovery from market downturns. Compared to RDTE and RDTY, RYLD has lower capital erosion and expense ratio, but total returns lag and dividend payouts have trended downward.

RYLD offers high monthly income by writing covered calls on the Russell 2000, yielding 12.7% with a low 0.60% fee. The strategy caps upside potential but smooths volatility, making it relatively attractive during flat or declining markets. Distribution amounts can be volatile and are mostly return of capital, which reduces the cost basis and can potentially increase the tax implications for investors.

The Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF offers exposure to small-cap US stocks via full replication of the Russell 2000 for capital appreciation potential. The ETF generates a conservative ~12% yield today primarily from selling at-the-money call options, providing steady income but capping upside in sharp rallies. Covered call strategies like RYLD perform best in flat or slowly rising markets, offering a limited downside cushion through option premiums.

Since my last writings, the implied volatilities (IV) for both the NASDAQ and Russell indices have risen to quite extreme levels. This offers favorable pricing for both RYLD and QYLD's use of options. The current IV is even more extreme for QYLD's underlying index, judging by historical records.

This article upgrades my rating on RYLD to buy primarily for two considerations. First, its 12%+ dividend yield is near peak levels since its inception, indicating unusually favorable risk premium. The current yield is nearly 2x of its historical average of 6.3%.

Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF offers a high dividend yield of 11.8% through a covered call strategy, ideal for income generation. RYLD's price has declined by over 33% since inception, but high distributions have boosted total returns by 31%, despite the current high-interest rate environment. The fund's ATM option strategy caps upside potential, making it suitable for choppy or declining markets, with a focus on income rather than growth.

Closed-end funds are special income vehicles, with many positive aspects and just as many weaknesses that take time to be properly understood and evaluated. I discovered their existence about ten years ago, and over time, I became convinced of their worth by developing a personal method of selection based mainly on NAV performance. This is an analytical, data-driven approach which I then extended to other types of securities in my portfolio, namely ETFs and BDCs.