Income ETF health check
Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF
ACEI
Innovator · Monthly · $51M
Current price
$23.99
As of 2026-09-29 · USD
Canary status
No significant NAV erosion detected — distributions look sustainable at the current pace.
Updated every Monday and Thursday
YieldCanary Health Metrics
Yield comparison
Advertised Yield
12.88%
Headline Yield (TTM)
10.53%
True Income Yield
10.53%
The real number is typically lower once return of capital is stripped out.
Health metrics
- Death Clock
- N/A
- YieldCanary ROC %
- 39.9%
- Stable ROC Badge
- Stable ROC
Income and return
- After-Tax Monthly (25%)
- $XX.XXUnlock free →
- Last Distribution
- $0.2551
- 1Y Price Return
- -3.21%
About True Income Yield
About True Income Yield: This is a YieldCanary proprietary sustainability indicator, not a standard accounting measure of economic gain. It strips return of capital from the headline yield to show only what the fund generated from real investment activity. Return of capital reduces your cost basis and the full economic gain is only realized when you sell your shares. YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not from the 19a-1 notices that fund companies publish monthly. Our estimates can differ from official issuer reports and can differ significantly from your year-end 1099 tax forms. We are actively working on incorporating 19a-1 data to make these figures more precise. For confirmed ROC figures always check the fund's official 19a-1 notice on the issuer's website or your year-end 1099.
True Income Yield and Death Clock are YieldCanary proprietary metrics. Not financial advice. Data updates every Monday and Thursday.
Price and Distribution History
Data last updated: Sep 28, 2026. Updates every Monday and Thursday.
Sustainability analysis
Health Score Breakdown
ACEI is currently Healthy on YieldCanary. ROC is within sustainable range, the NAV has held up over the trailing 12 months, and distributions have been stable. No significant erosion risk is detected at the current pace.
See the full health score breakdown. Start your free 7-day trial.
Start 7 Day Free TrialFund questions
Frequently Asked Questions — ACEI
Is ACEI a good income ETF?
Based on YieldCanary's health framework, ACEI is currently Healthy. No significant NAV erosion is detected at the current pace and the fund is passing all sustainability checks. The distributions appear to be generated from real investment activity rather than quiet erosion of the fund's value. This is not financial advice — always do your own research and consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What does ACEI pay per month?
Based on last month's actual distribution of $0.2551 per share, $10,000 invested in ACEI at the current price of $23.99 generates approximately 416 shares. That's $106.12 gross per month before taxes. Your after-tax income depends on your personal tax rate and account type. Set your rate inside YieldCanary to see your exact after-tax monthly income and connect your portfolio to see what all of your holdings generate together. Distributions change month to month based on options premiums and market conditions. Past distributions are not a guarantee of future payments.
Calculate your after-tax income on ACEI free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is ACEI's True Income Yield?
YieldCanary's True Income Yield for ACEI is currently 10.53%. This is a distribution sustainability indicator — it strips the estimated return of capital portion from the headline TTM yield to show only what the fund generated from real investment activity. It is not an accounting measure of economic gain. Return of capital reduces your cost basis and full economic gain is only realized when you sell. ACEI's current ROC estimate is 39.9%. ACEI carries the YieldCanary Stable ROC badge, meaning the NAV has held up alongside the high ROC — suggesting the ROC is a structured options outcome rather than destructive erosion. The full methodology breakdown is available inside YieldCanary. For confirmed ROC figures check the fund's official 19a-1 notice or your year-end 1099.
See the full health breakdown on ACEI free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is ACEI's Death Clock?
ACEI's Death Clock is currently N/A. This means no significant NAV erosion is detected at the current pace — the fund is not showing destructive return of capital behavior. N/A is the best possible Death Clock outcome.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
Is ACEI's return of capital good or bad?
ACEI's current ROC estimate is 39.9%. ACEI carries the YieldCanary Stable ROC badge. The NAV has held up alongside the high ROC, meaning the fund is not showing the destructive erosion pattern that makes high ROC a concern. Note: YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
How does ACEI compare to similar funds?
On YieldCanary, ACEI is currently Healthy with a 10.53% True Income Yield and a Death Clock of N/A. It pays Monthly distributions and has a 1-year price return of -3.21%. Similar funds from Innovator tracked on YieldCanary: Innovator Equity Premium Income – Daily PutWrite ETF (SPUT) — currently Healthy Full side-by-side comparison including True Income Yield, Death Clock, ROC%, and after-tax income across all similar funds is available inside YieldCanary.
Compare ACEI to similar funds free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
How often does ACEI pay distributions?
ACEI is a Monthly paying ETF. Distributions are paid once per month, which aligns well with monthly bills and expenses. Monthly payers are the most popular frequency among income investors for this reason. The most recent distribution was $0.2551 per share. To see exact upcoming ex-dividend and payment dates for ACEI in your portfolio, connect your holdings inside YieldCanary and check the Distribution Calendar.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is ACEI's AUM and why does it matter?
ACEI currently has $51M in assets under management. ACEI is a smaller fund. While smaller AUM is not automatically a problem, funds with limited assets carry slightly more closure risk if assets decline significantly. Factor this into your position sizing. AUM alone does not determine whether a fund is healthy. Check the Canary Status and Death Clock above for the full sustainability picture.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
Is ACEI available in a Roth IRA?
Yes — ACEI can be held in a Roth IRA like any standard ETF, assuming your brokerage offers it. For income ETFs with high return of capital, a Roth IRA can be a particularly advantageous account type. ROC distributions reduce your cost basis in a taxable account, creating a deferred tax liability that grows over time. In a Roth IRA that tax treatment is irrelevant as all distributions are tax-free regardless of their character. This is not tax advice. Consult a tax professional about your specific situation and account type before making investment decisions.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
About the fund
Strategy & Objective
Innovator · Monthly
The Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF (ACEI) provides investors with a straightforward means to pursue significant monthly income. This actively managed fund is dedicated to delivering consistent income distributions while simultaneously aiming to reduce potential capital downside. ACEI achieves its investment goal by allocating capital to a diversified, laddered portfolio of over-the-counter (OTC) swap agreements. These swap contracts are engineered to mimic the predetermined payout features found in autocallable notes, often referred to as Autocallable Instruments. These Autocallable Instruments are structured to potentially generate periodic payments, conditional on the performance of their underlying reference assets. They also endeavor to cap investor losses. However, should the reference asset's losses exceed a predefined limit or "investment barrier," the Fund would then bear those losses, up to the amount invested in that specific Autocallable Instrument, although any income received prior would help lessen the overall impact.
At a glance
YieldCanary Health Summary
Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF (ACEI) is a Monthly-paying income ETF issued by Innovator with $51M in assets under management. The fund has an advertised yield of 12.88% and a trailing 12-month headline yield of 10.53%. ACEI is currently Healthy on YieldCanary with a True Income Yield of 10.53% and a Death Clock of N/A. The fund carries the YieldCanary Stable ROC badge, indicating the NAV has held up alongside the high ROC. The most recent distribution was $0.2551 per share. The fund's price has returned -3.21% over the trailing 12 months.
Advertisement
Know If Your Income ETFs Are Actually Sustainable
YieldCanary health checks 320+ covered call and options income ETFs — showing you what the advertised yield doesn't. See what each fund really generates after taxes, whether the NAV is eroding, and how long the income can last at the current pace.
- See what each fund actually pays after taxes at your personal tax rate
- Know whether your funds are healthy or quietly returning your own money as income
- Connect your portfolio and see your complete income picture in one place
No commitment required. Cancel anytime.
Want to learn more about how to evaluate income ETFs? Visit the YieldCanary Education Hub →