At a glance
ALTY charges 0.5% a year, below the 0.86% average of the 7 funds most like it (the cheapest of 8). It has $48.7M in assets, the 8th largest of that group; it paid 8.15% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, monthly. Over the past year it returned +6.1% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), the weakest of those 8 funds; over three years it returned +13.0% a year. At its worst it fell 51.5% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 18.0% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 14 months and 17 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 88.7% of the fund, out of 19 in all.
The short version
Global X Alternative Income ETF (ALTY) is a fund of funds that tracks the Indxx SuperDividend Alternatives Index. That index splits money about equally across five income sources: pipeline partnerships and infrastructure stocks, REITs, preferred stocks, emerging market bonds and a Nasdaq-100 covered call strategy. What sets it apart is high monthly income. Its trailing 12-month yield was 8.15% as of October 27, 2026, and its expense ratio is 0.50%.
Price history
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ALTY +6.1% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTY official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +10.98% | — | +8.15% | +6.68% | — |
| ALTY price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +4.7% | +6.1% | +13.0% | +4.8% | +5.6% | +5.9% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, ALTY returned +6.1%, 8th of 8 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +4.8% and its 10-year +5.6%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 51.5% and regained its old high 13.6 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2020 (-12.7%); its best was 2021 (+23.1%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 51.5% (Feb 20, 2020 to Mar 18, 2020), recovered by May 7, 2021.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +4.8% | — |
| 2025 | +10.9% | +10.98% |
| 2024 | +10.9% | +10.59% |
| 2023 | +10.9% | +11.09% |
| 2022 | -11.7% | -12.12% |
| 2021 | +23.1% | +23.50% |
| 2020 | -12.7% | -12.98% |
| 2019 | +21.8% | +21.36% |
| 2018 | -6.2% | -5.73% |
| 2017 | +10.7% | +10.40% |
| 2016 | +16.6% | +17.41% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 50.8% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 51.5%, back to its old high 13.6 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 17.7% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 18%, back to its old high 17.3 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.7200 | |
| 2025 | $0.8800 | -4.3% |
| 2024 | $0.9200 | +7.0% |
| 2023 | $0.8600 | -1.1% |
| 2022 | $0.8700 | -6.5% |
| 2021 | $0.9300 | -14.7% |
| 2020 | $1.0900 | -18.0% |
| 2019 | $1.3300 | +18.8% |
| 2018 | $1.1200 | -1.8% |
| 2017 | $1.1400 | -5.8% |
| 2016 | $1.2100 |
What's inside
As of Aug 31, 2026, the fund held 19 securities; the ten largest made up 88.73% of assets.
| Fund held | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| GLOBAL X NASD 100 COV CALL MUTUAL FUND | 20.76% | |
| GLOBAL X SUPERDIVIDEND REIT MUTUAL FUND | 20.46% | |
| GLOBAL X EMERGING MARKETS BD MUTUAL FUND | 19.68% | |
| GLOBAL X US PREFERRED ETF MUTUAL FUND | 19.38% | |
| SUNOCO LP | 1.52% | |
| ENERGY TRANSFER LP | 1.47% | |
| ONEOK, INC. | 1.39% | |
| NORTHWESTERN ENERGY GROUP, INC. | 1.39% | |
| DORCHESTER MINERALS, L.P. | 1.37% | |
| ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P. | 1.32% | |
| MPLX LP | 1.31% | |
| HESS MIDSTREAM LP | 1.30% | |
| BLACK STONE MINERALS, L.P. | 1.29% | |
| BROOKFIELD INFRASTRUCTURE CORPORATION | 1.28% | |
| ANTERO MIDSTREAM CORPORATION | 1.27% |
By country
United States 99.88%By asset type
Stocks 99.88%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Aug 31, 2026, investors added a net $5.4M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +0.32%, +0.07%, +0.97%.
How it works
ALTY tracks the Indxx SuperDividend Alternatives Index from Indxx, LLC, independent of the fund's adviser, Global X Management Company. The index spreads money across five income sources: master limited partnerships (MLPs, mostly energy pipeline partnerships) and infrastructure stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs), preferred stock (shares paying set dividends ahead of common stock), emerging market bonds, and covered calls. Each gets 20% at the annual reset. If one drifts more than 3% from target, a quarterly rebalance can restore all five to 20%.
Four categories each use a single Global X ETF: SuperDividend REIT ETF, U.S. Preferred ETF, Emerging Markets Bond ETF and Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF. That makes ALTY mostly a fund of funds. As of August 31, 2026, those four made up about 80% of assets. The MLP and infrastructure slice holds companies directly; the largest, Sunoco LP and Energy Transfer LP, were about 1.5% each.
The covered call ETF owns stocks and sells call options on them, collecting cash up front but giving up gains above a set price, so it can lag in strong rallies. ALTY generally copies the index's holdings and weights but may use a sample when that is impractical. It may lend securities worth up to one-third of its assets. The index or objective can change without a shareholder vote.
What it really costs
- ALTY charges 0.5% a year, versus an average of 0.86% for the similar funds below (1st of 8, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $51 in the first year and $628 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTY | $51 | $160 | $280 | $628 |
Structure and tax notes
- Generates much of its income from selling options (directly or through notes). That income is usually taxed as ordinary income rather than as qualified dividends, and the strategy gives up some upside in strong markets.
- Invests in other funds rather than directly in stocks or bonds, so its holdings are those funds.
In a retirement portfolio
ALTY's main job is paying high monthly income from five sources outside ordinary stocks and bonds, not long-term growth or crash protection.
ALTY could add a high monthly income stream to a portfolio. Its trailing 12-month yield was 8.15% ($0.96 per share) as of October 27, 2026. Its 0.50% expense ratio works out to $51 in the first year on $10,000 in the SEC's standard example. Covered call income is usually taxed as ordinary income, not at the lower rate for qualified dividends.
The fund has offered little protection when stocks fall. In the 2020 COVID crash, the share price dropped 51.5% between February 20 and March 18, 2020, and took 13.6 months to recover. In 2022 it fell 18% and needed 17.3 months to recover. Its worst calendar year was 2020, a 12.98% loss. The fund launched in 2015, so it has no 2008 record. A retiree who had to sell shares during those stretches would have locked in losses. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Income seekers who want monthly payouts from REITs, preferreds, emerging market bonds, covered calls and MLPs in one fund costing 0.50% a year.
- Investors who prefer a rules-based mix reset to 20% per category over buying and rebalancing four Global X ETFs and pipeline stocks themselves.
- Those comfortable owning energy partnerships such as Energy Transfer, Enterprise Products and MPLX alongside real estate and bond exposure.
Look elsewhere if
- Anyone who needs stability in a crash: the share price fell 51.5% in early 2020 and took 13.6 months to recover.
- Investors focused on growth: the covered call portion caps upside, and the 10-year average annual return was 6.68% through December 31, 2025.
- Those who want tax-efficient income or a large fund: covered call income is usually taxed as ordinary income, and assets were only $48.7 million.
Close alternatives
Matched by other buffer (defined-outcome) funds, largest first.
| Fund | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTY this fund | 0.5% | $48.7M | +6.1% | +13.0% |
| BUFR FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF | 0.95% | $10.49B | +11.6% | +16.8% |
| BUFD FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | 0.95% | $2.04B | +9.5% | +13.9% |
| PJAN Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Ja… | 0.79% | $1.44B | +10.5% | +14.8% |
| PDEC Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - De… | 0.79% | $984.1M | +11.6% | +14.9% |
| FDEC FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - December | 0.85% | $1.31B | +12.9% | +18.5% |
| FJAN FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - January | 0.85% | $1.47B | +12.3% | +17.4% |
| FFEB FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer Fund - February | 0.85% | $1.42B | +12.9% | +18.6% |
Questions investors ask
Does ALTY pay monthly dividends?
Yes. ALTY pays distributions every month. In the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid about $0.96 per share, a trailing yield of 8.15% on the share price. Payments can change from month to month because they depend on what the underlying funds and partnerships pay out. Income from the covered call portion is usually taxed as ordinary income, not at the lower rate for qualified dividends.
Is ALTY good for retirement income?
It can provide high monthly income, but it carries stock-like crash risk. Its trailing yield was 8.15% as of October 27, 2026, and its expense ratio is 0.50%. But its share price fell 51.5% in early 2020 and took 13.6 months to recover, and the fund lost 12.12% in 2022. It may suit investors who treat it as one income piece in a broader mix, not as a steady store of value.
What does ALTY invest in?
ALTY mostly holds other Global X ETFs. As of August 31, 2026, about 80% of its assets were in four of them, each near 20%: the Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF, the SuperDividend REIT ETF, the Emerging Markets Bond ETF and the U.S. Preferred ETF. The other roughly 20% was spread across 15 MLPs and infrastructure stocks, including Sunoco, Energy Transfer, ONEOK, NorthWestern Energy and Enterprise Products Partners.
How much did ALTY lose in 2020?
ALTY lost 12.98% in calendar 2020, its worst year from 2016 through 2025, according to its prospectus. The drop within the year was much deeper. The share price fell 51.5% between February 20 and March 18, 2020, and the first quarter alone lost 39.48%. The fund then gained 25.6% in the second quarter. It got back to its earlier peak on May 7, 2021, about 13.6 months later.
How does ALTY compare with BUFR?
They follow different strategies, so neither is a close substitute for the other. BUFR, the FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF, is a buffer (defined-outcome) fund. It uses options to limit some losses on U.S. stocks. ALTY is a multi-asset income fund with no buffer. ALTY is cheaper, at 0.50% a year against 0.95%. As of October 27, 2026, ALTY returned 6.1% over one year and 13% a year over three years. BUFR returned 11.6% and 16.8% over the same periods.