IAUI Wins Best New Options Income ETF Award

2026 ETF.com Best New Options Income ETF

Fund: NEOS Gold High Income ETF (IAUI)

Issuer: NEOS Investments

Asset Class: Commodities 

AUM: $390 million 

Expense Ratio: 0.78%

The NEOS Gold High Income ETF (IAUI) won Best New Options Income ETF of the 2026 ETF.com awards. The strategy offers investors exposure to physical gold by investing in physical gold ETPs while also implementing a covered call strategy on gold ETPs. The options strategy works to create high monthly income while the physical gold exposure captures gold price appreciation. 

The options income strategy is part of NEOS's Alternatives High Income ETF suite that offers underlying exposure to alternative assets and combines it with an options strategy that creates high monthly income for investors. IAUI currently holds the second largest AUM of the suite, following in the footsteps of the NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF (BTCI) launched in October 2024. IAUI and the rest of the suite also offer potential tax advantages as the majority of distributions currently qualify as Return of Capital according to the fund page, with distributions made up of options premiums, capital gains, dividends, as well as interest. 

IAUI solves for one of the largest drawbacks to traditional gold investing: its lack of income. In a year that saw remarkable gold price gains, the ability to earn income from price momentum proved popular with advisors and investors. In a competitive category that has seen remarkable growth in terms of investor interest and flows in recent years, this capability hedged IAUI past the other nominees to secure the win. 

NEOS brings decades of options investing experience to bear when managing its strategies and offers a substantial and expanding options ETF lineup that continues to prove enormously popular with investors. The NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (QQQI) cemented Best New Active ETF in the 2025 ETF.com Awards. 

All data sourced as of 03/03/26.

To see the full list of winners, go here.