Income ETF health check
FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF
IGLD
First Trust · Monthly · $616M
Current price
$20.33
As of 2026-09-29 · USD
Canary status
Meaningful NAV erosion alongside distributions — the yield trap pattern is showing.
Updated every Monday and Thursday
YieldCanary Health Metrics
Yield comparison
Advertised Yield
23.78%
Headline Yield (TTM)
24.78%
True Income Yield
1.49%
The real number is typically lower once return of capital is stripped out.
Health metrics
- Death Clock
- 0.97 yrs
- YieldCanary ROC %
- 94.0%
Income and return
- After-Tax Monthly (25%)
- $XX.XXUnlock free →
- Last Distribution
- $0.4239
- 1Y Price Return
- -14.20%
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
IGLD is currently High Risk on YieldCanary. Meaningful NAV erosion is being detected alongside the distributions. The Death Clock of 0.97 years indicates the fund is on a concerning trajectory at the current pace. High ROC combined with a declining NAV is the yield trap pattern — the distributions look attractive but the underlying value is eroding.
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Frequently Asked Questions — IGLD
Is IGLD a good income ETF?
Based on YieldCanary's health framework, IGLD is currently High Risk. The fund is showing meaningful NAV erosion alongside its distributions. The Death Clock of 0.97 years indicates the fund is on a concerning trajectory at the current pace. This warrants significant caution before adding to or initiating a position. 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 IGLD pay per month?
Based on last month's actual distribution of $0.4239 per share, $10,000 invested in IGLD at the current price of $20.33 generates approximately 491 shares. That's $208.13 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 IGLD free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is IGLD's True Income Yield?
YieldCanary's True Income Yield for IGLD is currently 1.49%. 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. IGLD's current ROC estimate is 94.0%. 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 IGLD free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is IGLD's Death Clock?
IGLD's Death Clock is currently 0.97 years. This estimates the number of years before 50% of the fund's NAV erodes at the current pace, assuming all things stay constant. It is a sustainability warning signal. The pace can improve or worsen as market conditions and distribution behavior change. Check back every Monday and Thursday when the data refreshes.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
Is IGLD's return of capital good or bad?
IGLD's current ROC estimate is 94.0%. A high ROC without NAV stability can indicate the fund is returning your own principal as income while the underlying value declines. The Death Clock and Canary Status reflect this in IGLD's current health rating. 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 IGLD compare to similar funds?
On YieldCanary, IGLD is currently High Risk with a 1.49% True Income Yield and a Death Clock of 0.97 years. It pays Monthly distributions and has a 1-year price return of -14.20%. Similar funds from First Trust tracked on YieldCanary: FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF (RDVI) — currently Healthy; FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF (KNG) — currently Healthy; First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) — 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 IGLD to similar funds free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
How often does IGLD pay distributions?
IGLD 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 $0.4239 per share. To see exact upcoming ex-dividend and payment dates for IGLD 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 IGLD's AUM and why does it matter?
IGLD currently has $616M in assets under management. IGLD is a mid-sized fund with reasonable liquidity. Worth monitoring AUM trends over time to ensure the fund continues attracting assets. 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 IGLD available in a Roth IRA?
Yes — IGLD 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
First Trust · Monthly
The FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF, referred to as "the Fund," pursues two primary goals: first, to offer investors exposure to the price fluctuations of the SPDR Gold Trust (its "Underlying ETF"), and second, to deliver a consistent income stream. To achieve these objectives, the Fund allocates the majority of its assets to secure U.S. Treasury securities. Additionally, it invests in a wholly-owned subsidiary. This subsidiary, in turn, holds a portfolio of various exchange-traded options, including specialized FLexible Exchange Options ("FLEX Options"), all of which are designed to track the performance of the aforementioned Underlying ETF.
At a glance
YieldCanary Health Summary
FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF (IGLD) is a Monthly-paying income ETF issued by First Trust with $616M in assets under management. The fund has an advertised yield of 23.78% and a trailing 12-month headline yield of 24.78%. IGLD is currently High Risk on YieldCanary with a True Income Yield of 1.49% and a Death Clock of 0.97 years. The fund's current ROC estimate is 94.0% which warrants monitoring alongside the Canary Status. The most recent distribution was $0.4239 per share. The fund's price has returned -14.20% over the trailing 12 months.
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