Income ETF health check
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond BuyWrite Strategy ETF
TLTW
IShares · Monthly · $1.7B
Current price
$20.37
As of 2026-09-29 · USD
Canary status
Significant NAV erosion — distributions may be returning principal while value declines.
Updated every Monday and Thursday
YieldCanary Health Metrics
Yield comparison
Advertised Yield
7.69%
Headline Yield (TTM)
10.94%
True Income Yield
0.00%
The real number is typically lower once return of capital is stripped out.
Health metrics
- Death Clock
- 0.52 yrs
- YieldCanary ROC %
- 100.0%
Income and return
- After-Tax Monthly (25%)
- $XX.XXUnlock free →
- Last Distribution
- $0.1523
- 1Y Price Return
- -11.89%
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
TLTW is currently Severe Risk on YieldCanary. The Death Clock of 0.52 years indicates significant NAV erosion at the current pace. 100% of distributions are estimated as return of capital with the NAV declining alongside distributions. This is the yield trap pattern at its most extreme.
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Frequently Asked Questions — TLTW
Is TLTW a good income ETF?
Based on YieldCanary's health framework, TLTW is currently Severe Risk. The current data suggests extreme caution. The fund is showing significant NAV erosion alongside its distributions — the classic yield trap pattern where the advertised yield looks attractive while the underlying value quietly disappears. 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 TLTW pay per month?
Based on last month's actual distribution of $0.1523 per share, $10,000 invested in TLTW at the current price of $20.37 generates approximately 490 shares. That's $74.63 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 TLTW free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is TLTW's True Income Yield?
YieldCanary's True Income Yield for TLTW is currently 0.00%. 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. TLTW's current ROC estimate is 100.0%. 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 TLTW free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is TLTW's Death Clock?
TLTW's Death Clock is currently 0.52 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 TLTW's return of capital good or bad?
TLTW's current ROC estimate is 100.0%. 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 TLTW'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 TLTW compare to similar funds?
On YieldCanary, TLTW is currently Severe Risk with a 0.00% True Income Yield and a Death Clock of 0.52 years. It pays Monthly distributions and has a 1-year price return of -11.89%. Similar funds from IShares tracked on YieldCanary: iShares U.S. Large Cap Premium Income Active ETF (BALI) — currently Healthy; iShares Investment Grade Corporate Bond BuyWrite Strategy ETF (LQDW) — currently Severe Risk; The iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF (BITA) — 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 TLTW to similar funds free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
How often does TLTW pay distributions?
TLTW 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 $0.1523 per share. To see exact upcoming ex-dividend and payment dates for TLTW 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 TLTW's AUM and why does it matter?
TLTW currently has $1.7B in assets under management. At over $1 billion in AUM, TLTW has meaningful institutional backing and strong liquidity. Larger funds are generally more stable and less likely to close due to insufficient 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 TLTW available in a Roth IRA?
Yes — TLTW 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
IShares · Monthly
The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond BuyWrite Strategy ETF aims to replicate the performance of an index that implements a dual investment strategy. This strategy involves holding positions in the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF while simultaneously generating income through the routine sale of one-month covered call options on those underlying assets.
At a glance
YieldCanary Health Summary
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond BuyWrite Strategy ETF (TLTW) is a Monthly-paying income ETF issued by IShares with $1.7B in assets under management. The fund has an advertised yield of 7.69% and a trailing 12-month headline yield of 10.94%. TLTW is currently Severe Risk on YieldCanary with a True Income Yield of 0.00% and a Death Clock of 0.52 years. The fund's current ROC estimate is 100.0% which warrants monitoring alongside the Canary Status. The most recent distribution was $0.1523 per share. The fund's price has returned -11.89% over the trailing 12 months.
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