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Active ETF Scorecard: 30-Year Yields Hit 2002 Highs as Muni Bonds Sink to Last

Shauvik Haldar

|

Each week, we calculate the equal-weighted average YTD total return for hundreds of active ETFs across every category. We include funds with at least $10 million in AUM and exclude leveraged and inverse funds. This shows which categories of active ETFs are outperforming or trailing the S&P 500, which generated 13.21% in YTD total return through September 28, 2026.

Active ETF Scorecard

Avg YTD: +22.29% Active EM Equity, +22.29% Avg YTD: +13.23% Active Dividend, +13.23% Avg YTD: +12.65% Active U.S. Equity, +12.65% Avg YTD: +11.96% Active International Equity, +11.96% Avg YTD: +11.20% Active Alts, +11.20% Avg YTD: +10.94% Active Covered Call, +10.94%
Avg YTD: +0.86% Active Foreign Fixed Income, +0.86% Avg YTD: +0.39% Active High Yield Bond, +0.39% Avg YTD: -0.20% Active U.S. Fixed Income, -0.20% Avg YTD: -1.79% Active Core Bond, -1.79% Avg YTD: -2.24% Active Muni Bond, -2.24%

As of September 28, 2026

The S&P 500 delivered 13.21% YTD total return through September 28, 2026. Here’s how each category’s top active ETF performed.

Top Performing Active ETFs

Showing the top-performing ETF by YTD total return in each category

Category Category Return
YTD		 Top Performing ETF ETF YTD Total
Return		 Expense Ratio
Active EM Equity
22.29%
EMEQ Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF 67.83% 0.86%
Active Dividend
13.23%
DGRE WisdomTree Emerging Markets Quality Dividend Growth ETF 34.07% 0.32%
Active U.S. Equity
12.65%
AIS VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF 101.06% 0.75%
Active International Equity
11.96%
UMMA Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF 26.41% 0.65%
Active Alts
11.20%
DECO State Street Galaxy Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF 72.25% 0.65%
Active Covered Call
10.94%
MRNY YieldMax MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF 418.94% 1.00%
Active Foreign Fixed Income
0.86%
KHYB KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income USD Bond ETF 3.80% 0.69%
Active High Yield Bond
0.39%
HYGH iShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF 4.19% 0.52%
Active U.S. Fixed Income
-0.20%
PFIX Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF 24.24% 0.50%
Active Core Bond
-1.79%
BNDS Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF 3.94% 0.81%
Active Muni Bond
-2.24%
GUMI Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Municipal Income ETF 1.44% 0.16%
As of September 28, 2026 MutualFunds.com logo

Active EM Equity (YTD Total Return: +22.29%)

EM equity pulls further ahead at +22.29%, up from +20.45% and the biggest weekly jump. The rally leans hard on Asian chipmakers, so check a fund’s Korea and Taiwan weight.

Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF (EMEQ), up 67.83%, added six points. Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Active ETF (EMSF), up 41.33%, and OneAscent Emerging Markets ETF (OAEM), up 36.98%, follow on a Korean chip rally. To compare the rest of the region, see emerging markets equity, emerging Europe, and emerging Asia-Pacific funds and ETFs.

Active Dividend (YTD Total Return: +13.23%)

Active Dividend dips to +13.23% from +13.65%, the only equity category to lose ground. Its lead over U.S. equity shrank to about half a point.

WisdomTree Emerging Markets Quality Dividend Growth ETF (DGRE), up 34.07% from 31.29%, leads, and Abrdn Emerging Markets Dividend Active ETF (AGEM), up 31.83%, broke last week’s tie to take second. Cambria Emerging Shareholder Yield ETF (EYLD), up 29.00%, slips to third. Income-focused investors can compare more names among dividend funds and ETFs.

Active U.S. Equity (YTD Total Return: +12.65%)

Active U.S. Equity bounces back to +12.65% from +11.72%. AI names did the lifting, so check how concentrated a fund is.

VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF (AIS) crossed the 100% mark, up 101.06% from 91.32%. ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG), up 84.19%, follows, while State Street Galaxy Transformative Tech Accelerators ETF (TEKX), up 69.76%, cooled. Sort the full field by style with U.S. growth equity and U.S. value equity funds and ETFs.

Active International Equity (YTD Total Return: +11.96%)

Active International Equity edges up to +11.96% from +11.54% but trails U.S. stocks for a second week. Watch the dollar, which just hit a seven-week high.

Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF (UMMA), up 26.41%, passes Cambria Global Value ETF (GVAL), up 25.64%, for the lead. Lazard Japanese Equity ETF (JPY), up 23.76%, holds third. The rest of the category sits under international equity funds and ETFs.

Active Alts (YTD Total Return: +11.20%)

Active Alts slips to +11.20% from +11.53%. Single-asset funds can fall as fast as they rose.

State Street Galaxy Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (DECO), up 72.25%, and State Street Galaxy Hedged Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (HECO), up 68.03%, barely moved as bitcoin dipped. Defiance Oil Enhanced Options Income ETF (USOY), up 64.30%, lost five points as oil eased. More strategies like these are listed at diversified alternatives funds and ETFs.

Active Covered Call (YTD Total Return: +10.94%)

Active Covered Call keeps climbing to +10.94% from +9.61% and now trails alts by a quarter point. Check which stock each fund writes calls on.

YieldMax MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF (MRNY), up 418.94%, added almost 100 points after Moderna hit a 52-week high on cancer-vaccine news. YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF (AMDY), up 135.27%, and YieldMax Target 12 Semiconductor Option Income ETF (SOXY), up 76.84%, follow on chip strength. Explore other option-income strategies at high-yield dividend income funds and ETFs.

Active Foreign Fixed Income (YTD Total Return: +0.86%)

Active Foreign Fixed Income nearly halves its gain to +0.86% from +1.65% as yields rise abroad too. Look for income high enough to outrun price losses.

KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income USD Bond ETF (KHYB), up 3.80%, leads. Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF (VEMY) and WisdomTree Emerging Currency Strategy Fund (CEW) tie at 3.66%, with VEMY’s roughly 6.3% yield softening a drop from 5.25%. For more choices outside the U.S., browse international bond funds and ETFs.

Active High Yield Bond (YTD Total Return: +0.39%)

Active High Yield Bond falls to +0.39% from +1.30%. Check rate sensitivity as Treasury yields climb.

iShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF (HYGH), up 4.19%, leads by hedging out rate risk and yields above 6%. PIMCO Senior Loan Active ETF (LONZ), up 3.71%, yields about 8.5%, and its floating-rate loans pay more as rates rise. See the full category at high-yield bond funds and ETFs.

Active U.S. Fixed Income (YTD Total Return: -0.20%)

Active U.S. Fixed Income turns negative at -0.20% from +0.48% as the 10-year yield topped 5.25%. The winners here aren’t plain bonds, so read the holdings.

Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF (PFIX), up 24.24%, nearly doubled from 12.99% since it profits as long yields rise. Calamos Convertible Equity Alternative ETF (CVRT), up 23.91%, and First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities ETF (FCVT), up 15.94%, ride stocks through convertibles. Dig deeper at corporate bond and government bond funds and ETFs.

Active Core Bond (YTD Total Return: -1.79%)

Active Core Bond nearly doubles its loss to -1.79% from -0.94%. Short maturities and higher income are holding up best.

Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF (BNDS), up 3.94%, still leads with a yield near 8%. SGI Enhanced Core ETF (USDX), up 3.84%, actually gained, and State Street My2026 Corporate Bond ETF (MYCF), up 2.84%, held steady on short maturities. Compare durations across investment-grade corporate bond and government bond funds and ETFs.

Active Muni Bond (YTD Total Return: -2.24%)

Active Muni Bond drops to last at -2.24% from -0.88%, the steepest weekly slide of any category. Only ultra-short funds remain positive, so check duration first.

Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Municipal Income ETF (GUMI), up 1.44%, leads with a yield near 2.7%, and that income is free of federal tax. First Trust Ultra Short Duration Municipal ETF (FUMB), up 1.33%, and PGIM Ultra Short Municipal Bond ETF (PUSH), up 0.98%, follow. Browse the full list at municipal bond funds and ETFs.

Categories to Watch

Four of five equity categories gained this week, while all five bond categories lost ground. With markets leaning toward another Fed hike in October, short duration and steady income matter more than price gains.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

Sign up for Advisor Access

Receive email updates about best performers, news, CE accredited webcasts and more.

Popular Articles

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Active ETF Scorecard: 30-Year Yields Hit 2002 Highs as Muni Bonds Sink to Last

Shauvik Haldar

|

Each week, we calculate the equal-weighted average YTD total return for hundreds of active ETFs across every category. We include funds with at least $10 million in AUM and exclude leveraged and inverse funds. This shows which categories of active ETFs are outperforming or trailing the S&P 500, which generated 13.21% in YTD total return through September 28, 2026.

Active ETF Scorecard

Avg YTD: +22.29% Active EM Equity, +22.29% Avg YTD: +13.23% Active Dividend, +13.23% Avg YTD: +12.65% Active U.S. Equity, +12.65% Avg YTD: +11.96% Active International Equity, +11.96% Avg YTD: +11.20% Active Alts, +11.20% Avg YTD: +10.94% Active Covered Call, +10.94%
Avg YTD: +0.86% Active Foreign Fixed Income, +0.86% Avg YTD: +0.39% Active High Yield Bond, +0.39% Avg YTD: -0.20% Active U.S. Fixed Income, -0.20% Avg YTD: -1.79% Active Core Bond, -1.79% Avg YTD: -2.24% Active Muni Bond, -2.24%

As of September 28, 2026

The S&P 500 delivered 13.21% YTD total return through September 28, 2026. Here’s how each category’s top active ETF performed.

Top Performing Active ETFs

Showing the top-performing ETF by YTD total return in each category

Category Category Return
YTD		 Top Performing ETF ETF YTD Total
Return		 Expense Ratio
Active EM Equity
22.29%
EMEQ Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF 67.83% 0.86%
Active Dividend
13.23%
DGRE WisdomTree Emerging Markets Quality Dividend Growth ETF 34.07% 0.32%
Active U.S. Equity
12.65%
AIS VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF 101.06% 0.75%
Active International Equity
11.96%
UMMA Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF 26.41% 0.65%
Active Alts
11.20%
DECO State Street Galaxy Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF 72.25% 0.65%
Active Covered Call
10.94%
MRNY YieldMax MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF 418.94% 1.00%
Active Foreign Fixed Income
0.86%
KHYB KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income USD Bond ETF 3.80% 0.69%
Active High Yield Bond
0.39%
HYGH iShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF 4.19% 0.52%
Active U.S. Fixed Income
-0.20%
PFIX Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF 24.24% 0.50%
Active Core Bond
-1.79%
BNDS Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF 3.94% 0.81%
Active Muni Bond
-2.24%
GUMI Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Municipal Income ETF 1.44% 0.16%
As of September 28, 2026 MutualFunds.com logo

Active EM Equity (YTD Total Return: +22.29%)

EM equity pulls further ahead at +22.29%, up from +20.45% and the biggest weekly jump. The rally leans hard on Asian chipmakers, so check a fund’s Korea and Taiwan weight.

Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF (EMEQ), up 67.83%, added six points. Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Active ETF (EMSF), up 41.33%, and OneAscent Emerging Markets ETF (OAEM), up 36.98%, follow on a Korean chip rally. To compare the rest of the region, see emerging markets equity, emerging Europe, and emerging Asia-Pacific funds and ETFs.

Active Dividend (YTD Total Return: +13.23%)

Active Dividend dips to +13.23% from +13.65%, the only equity category to lose ground. Its lead over U.S. equity shrank to about half a point.

WisdomTree Emerging Markets Quality Dividend Growth ETF (DGRE), up 34.07% from 31.29%, leads, and Abrdn Emerging Markets Dividend Active ETF (AGEM), up 31.83%, broke last week’s tie to take second. Cambria Emerging Shareholder Yield ETF (EYLD), up 29.00%, slips to third. Income-focused investors can compare more names among dividend funds and ETFs.

Active U.S. Equity (YTD Total Return: +12.65%)

Active U.S. Equity bounces back to +12.65% from +11.72%. AI names did the lifting, so check how concentrated a fund is.

VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF (AIS) crossed the 100% mark, up 101.06% from 91.32%. ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG), up 84.19%, follows, while State Street Galaxy Transformative Tech Accelerators ETF (TEKX), up 69.76%, cooled. Sort the full field by style with U.S. growth equity and U.S. value equity funds and ETFs.

Active International Equity (YTD Total Return: +11.96%)

Active International Equity edges up to +11.96% from +11.54% but trails U.S. stocks for a second week. Watch the dollar, which just hit a seven-week high.

Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF (UMMA), up 26.41%, passes Cambria Global Value ETF (GVAL), up 25.64%, for the lead. Lazard Japanese Equity ETF (JPY), up 23.76%, holds third. The rest of the category sits under international equity funds and ETFs.

Active Alts (YTD Total Return: +11.20%)

Active Alts slips to +11.20% from +11.53%. Single-asset funds can fall as fast as they rose.

State Street Galaxy Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (DECO), up 72.25%, and State Street Galaxy Hedged Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (HECO), up 68.03%, barely moved as bitcoin dipped. Defiance Oil Enhanced Options Income ETF (USOY), up 64.30%, lost five points as oil eased. More strategies like these are listed at diversified alternatives funds and ETFs.

Active Covered Call (YTD Total Return: +10.94%)

Active Covered Call keeps climbing to +10.94% from +9.61% and now trails alts by a quarter point. Check which stock each fund writes calls on.

YieldMax MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF (MRNY), up 418.94%, added almost 100 points after Moderna hit a 52-week high on cancer-vaccine news. YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF (AMDY), up 135.27%, and YieldMax Target 12 Semiconductor Option Income ETF (SOXY), up 76.84%, follow on chip strength. Explore other option-income strategies at high-yield dividend income funds and ETFs.

Active Foreign Fixed Income (YTD Total Return: +0.86%)

Active Foreign Fixed Income nearly halves its gain to +0.86% from +1.65% as yields rise abroad too. Look for income high enough to outrun price losses.

KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income USD Bond ETF (KHYB), up 3.80%, leads. Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF (VEMY) and WisdomTree Emerging Currency Strategy Fund (CEW) tie at 3.66%, with VEMY’s roughly 6.3% yield softening a drop from 5.25%. For more choices outside the U.S., browse international bond funds and ETFs.

Active High Yield Bond (YTD Total Return: +0.39%)

Active High Yield Bond falls to +0.39% from +1.30%. Check rate sensitivity as Treasury yields climb.

iShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF (HYGH), up 4.19%, leads by hedging out rate risk and yields above 6%. PIMCO Senior Loan Active ETF (LONZ), up 3.71%, yields about 8.5%, and its floating-rate loans pay more as rates rise. See the full category at high-yield bond funds and ETFs.

Active U.S. Fixed Income (YTD Total Return: -0.20%)

Active U.S. Fixed Income turns negative at -0.20% from +0.48% as the 10-year yield topped 5.25%. The winners here aren’t plain bonds, so read the holdings.

Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF (PFIX), up 24.24%, nearly doubled from 12.99% since it profits as long yields rise. Calamos Convertible Equity Alternative ETF (CVRT), up 23.91%, and First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities ETF (FCVT), up 15.94%, ride stocks through convertibles. Dig deeper at corporate bond and government bond funds and ETFs.

Active Core Bond (YTD Total Return: -1.79%)

Active Core Bond nearly doubles its loss to -1.79% from -0.94%. Short maturities and higher income are holding up best.

Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF (BNDS), up 3.94%, still leads with a yield near 8%. SGI Enhanced Core ETF (USDX), up 3.84%, actually gained, and State Street My2026 Corporate Bond ETF (MYCF), up 2.84%, held steady on short maturities. Compare durations across investment-grade corporate bond and government bond funds and ETFs.

Active Muni Bond (YTD Total Return: -2.24%)

Active Muni Bond drops to last at -2.24% from -0.88%, the steepest weekly slide of any category. Only ultra-short funds remain positive, so check duration first.

Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Municipal Income ETF (GUMI), up 1.44%, leads with a yield near 2.7%, and that income is free of federal tax. First Trust Ultra Short Duration Municipal ETF (FUMB), up 1.33%, and PGIM Ultra Short Municipal Bond ETF (PUSH), up 0.98%, follow. Browse the full list at municipal bond funds and ETFs.

Categories to Watch

Four of five equity categories gained this week, while all five bond categories lost ground. With markets leaning toward another Fed hike in October, short duration and steady income matter more than price gains.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

Sign up for Advisor Access

Receive email updates about best performers, news, CE accredited webcasts and more.

Popular Articles

Read Next

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