Is ESML or RYLD a better dividend investment in 2026?

ESML currently yields 1.08% with a 5% 5-year dividend growth rate. RYLD yields 12.39% with 5% growth. The better choice depends on your goal: RYLD offers higher current income.

What is the dividend yield difference between ESML and RYLD?

ESML has a forward dividend yield of 1.08% ($0.51/share annually). RYLD yields 12.39% ($1.81/share annually). The yield gap is 11.31 percentage points.

Home › Compare › ESML vs RYLD

ESML vs RYLD: Dividend Comparison 2026

ESML yields 1.08% · RYLD yields 12.39%● Live data

vsPost on X →

After 10 years · $10,000 invested · DRIP enabled

🏆 RYLD wins by $24.1K in total portfolio value

INVESTMENT

TIME HORIZON10 years

ESML

● Live price

1.08%

Share price

$47.04

Annual div

$0.51

5Y div CAGR

Payout ratio

50%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$21.2K

Annual income

$115.58

Full ESML calculator →

RYLD

● Live price

12.39%

Share price

$14.64

Annual div

$1.81

5Y div CAGR

Payout ratio

50%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$45.3K

Annual income

$2,682.98

Full RYLD calculator →

Portfolio growth — ESML vs RYLD

📍 RYLD pulled ahead of the other in Year 1

Annual dividend income

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Recession Test — Did They Cut Dividends?

How each stock treated shareholders during the 3 biggest crises of the last 20 years

Crisis Period	ESML	RYLD
2008–2009 GFC	— No data	— No data
2020 Q1–Q2 COVID	— No data	— No data
2022 Q4 Rate Hike	— No data	— No data

Based on dividend payment history. "Increased" = dividend grew during crisis. "Maintained" = held within 3%. "Cut" = reduced by more than 3%.

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Dividend Calendar Overlap

Combined, ESML + RYLD cover 0 of 12 months — good coverage

Jan

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Feb

—

Mar

—

Apr

—

May

—

Jun

—

Jul

—

Aug

—

Sep

—

Oct

—

Nov

—

Dec

—

ESML pays

RYLD pays

Both pay

Neither

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Tax Bracket Optimizer

Which stock is actually better after tax? Adjust your rate to find out.

ESML

Annual income on $10K today (after 15% tax)

$91.61/yr

After 10yr DRIP, annual income (after tax)

$98.24/yr

RYLD

Annual income on $10K today (after 15% tax)

$1,053.44/yr

After 10yr DRIP, annual income (after tax)

$2,280.53/yr

At 15% tax rate, RYLD beats the other by $2,182.29/year in after-tax income after 10 years on $10,000

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Lazy Portfolio Split Optimizer

What's the optimal mix of ESML + RYLD for your $10,000?

ESML: 50%RYLD: 50%

100% RYLD50/50100% ESML

Portfolio after 10yr

$33.2K

Annual income

$1,399.28/yr

Blended yield

4.21%

🏛️

Copy Congress — What Are Politicians Buying?

Senate & House STOCK Act disclosures (last 90 days)

ESML buys

RYLD buys

No recent congressional trades found for ESML or RYLD in the last 90 days.

STOCK Act mandates disclosure within 45 days of transaction. Data via FMP.Full tracker →

MetricESMLRYLD

Forward yield	1.08%	12.39% ✓
Annual dividend / share	$0.51	$1.81 ✓
Payout ratio	50%	50%
1-year div growth	0%	0%
5-year div CAGR	0%	0%
Portfolio after 10y	$21.2K	$45.3K ✓
Annual income after 10y	$115.58	$2,682.98 ✓
Total dividends collected	$1.1K	$19.4K ✓
Payment frequency	quarterly	quarterly
Sector	Stock	ETF

Year-by-year: ESML vs RYLD ($10,000, DRIP)

Year	ESML Portfolio	ESML Income/yr	RYLD Portfolio	RYLD Income/yr	Gap
1← crossover	$10,808	$107.78	$11,939	$1,239.34	$1.1K → RYLD
2	$11,673	$108.86	$14,158	$1,382.89	$2.5K → RYLD
3	$12,600	$109.89	$16,682	$1,532.59	$4.1K → RYLD
4	$13,593	$110.85	$19,537	$1,687.64	$5.9K → RYLD
5	$14,656	$111.76	$22,752	$1,847.20	$8.1K → RYLD
6	$15,795	$112.62	$26,355	$2,010.43	$10.6K → RYLD
7	$17,014	$113.43	$30,376	$2,176.45	$13.4K → RYLD
8	$18,319	$114.19	$34,847	$2,344.43	$16.5K → RYLD
9	$19,716	$114.91	$39,800	$2,513.54	$20.1K → RYLD
10	$21,212	$115.58	$45,269	$2,682.98	$24.1K → RYLD

ESML vs RYLD: Complete Analysis 2026

ESML — Stock

The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF seeks to track the investment results of an optimized index designed to produce investment results comparable to a capitalization weighted index of small-capitalization U.S. companies, while reflecting a higher allocation to those companies with favorable environmental, social and governance ("ESG") profiles (as determined by the index provider).

Full ESML Calculator →

RYLD — ETF

The Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF (RYLD) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Cboe Russell 2000 BuyWrite Index.

Full RYLD Calculator →

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⚠️ Educational purposes only. Not financial advice. Congressional trades sourced from SEC STOCK Act filings via FMP. Past performance does not guarantee future results.