Income ETF health check
Volatility Shares Trust - Volatility Premium Plus ETF
ZVOL
Volatility Shares · Monthly · $19M
Current price
$7.75
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
75.58%
Headline Yield (TTM)
75.49%
True Income Yield
41.46%
The real number is typically lower once return of capital is stripped out.
Health metrics
- Death Clock
- 0.90 yrs
- YieldCanary ROC %
- 45.1%
Income and return
- After-Tax Monthly (25%)
- $XX.XXUnlock free →
- Last Distribution
- $0.4850
- 1Y Price Return
- -35.75%
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
ZVOL is currently Severe Risk on YieldCanary. The Death Clock of 0.90 years indicates significant NAV erosion at the current pace. 45% of distributions are estimated as return of capital with the NAV declining alongside distributions. This is the yield trap pattern at its most extreme.
See the full health score breakdown. Start your free 7-day trial.
Start 7 Day Free TrialFund questions
Frequently Asked Questions — ZVOL
Is ZVOL a good income ETF?
Based on YieldCanary's health framework, ZVOL 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 ZVOL pay per month?
Based on last month's actual distribution of $0.4850 per share, $10,000 invested in ZVOL at the current price of $7.75 generates approximately 1290 shares. That's $625.65 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 ZVOL free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is ZVOL's True Income Yield?
YieldCanary's True Income Yield for ZVOL is currently 41.46%. 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. ZVOL's current ROC estimate is 45.1%. 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 ZVOL free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is ZVOL's Death Clock?
ZVOL's Death Clock is currently 0.90 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 ZVOL's return of capital good or bad?
ZVOL's current ROC estimate is 45.1%. Moderate ROC worth monitoring. Not immediately alarming but track whether the NAV is holding up alongside the distributions over time. 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 ZVOL compare to similar funds?
On YieldCanary, ZVOL is currently Severe Risk with a 41.46% True Income Yield and a Death Clock of 0.90 years. It pays Monthly distributions and has a 1-year price return of -35.75%. Similar funds from Volatility Shares tracked on YieldCanary: JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI) — currently Healthy; JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ) — currently Healthy; NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (QQQI) — 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 ZVOL to similar funds free →YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
How often does ZVOL pay distributions?
ZVOL 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 $0.4850 per share. To see exact upcoming ex-dividend and payment dates for ZVOL 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 ZVOL's AUM and why does it matter?
ZVOL currently has $19M in assets under management. ZVOL 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 ZVOL available in a Roth IRA?
Yes — ZVOL 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
Volatility Shares · Monthly
The Volatility Premium Plus ETF, known by its ticker ZVOL, is structured to deliver a consistent monthly income stream and act as a distinct tool for portfolio diversification. It achieves this by capitalizing on the premium inherent in the VIX futures term structure. On a daily basis, ZVOL aims to replicate the inverse performance of the S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures Inverse Daily Index, prior to the deduction of any fees and operational expenses.
At a glance
YieldCanary Health Summary
Volatility Shares Trust - Volatility Premium Plus ETF (ZVOL) is a Monthly-paying income ETF issued by Volatility Shares with $19M in assets under management. The fund has an advertised yield of 75.58% and a trailing 12-month headline yield of 75.49%. ZVOL is currently Severe Risk on YieldCanary with a True Income Yield of 41.46% and a Death Clock of 0.90 years. The most recent distribution was $0.4850 per share. The fund's price has returned -35.75% 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 →