CEFZ vs FCEF
RiverNorth Active Income ETF compared with First Trust Income Opportunity ETF on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
CEFZ
RiverNorth Active Income ETF
TTM yield · Monthly
FCEF
First Trust Income Opportunity ETF
TTM yield · Monthly
Quick take
- CEFZ yields more today: 10.46% vs 7.27% (forward).
- Both pay every month.
- Over the last year FCEF delivered the higher total return: +6.0% vs +5.3% (price change plus payouts).
- CEFZ is cheaper to own: 2.82% vs 3.69% expense ratio.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | CEFZ | FCEF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $7.81 | $22.60 |
| TTM yield | 10.46% | 7.27% |
| Forward yield | 10.46% | 7.27% |
| Annual payout per share | $0.817 | $1.644 |
| Payment frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Next ex-date | Oct 29, 2026 (est.) | Nov 13, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 2.82% | 3.69% |
| 1-year payout growth | — | +1.5% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | — | +6.9% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 0 years | 0 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 98/100 | 99/100 |
| 1-year total return | +5.3% | +6.0% |
| 1-year price return | -4.7% | -1.2% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 40.5M | 80.9M |
| Years paying | 1.1 | 10.0 |
| Sector / category | Global Moderately Conservative Allocation | Global Moderately Conservative Allocation |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| CEFZ | FCEF | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 1,280.4 | 442.4 |
| Income per year | $1,046 | $727 |
| Income per month (avg) | $87 | $61 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model CEFZ · Model FCEF
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEFZ Oct 29, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 | $0.0681 | Est. |
| CEFZ Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 12, 2026 | $0.0681 | Est. |
| CEFZ Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 11, 2027 | $0.0681 | Est. |
| FCEF Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | $0.137 | Est. |
| FCEF Dec 13, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | $0.137 | Est. |
| FCEF Jan 12, 2027 | Jan 29, 2027 | $0.137 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
CEFZFCEF
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, CEFZ or FCEF?
CEFZ currently has the higher trailing yield: CEFZ yields 10.46% and FCEF yields 7.27%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do CEFZ and FCEF pay?
CEFZ pays every month and FCEF pays every month. CEFZ's next ex-date is Oct 29, 2026 and FCEF's is Nov 13, 2026.
Is CEFZ or FCEF better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. CEFZ and FCEF differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.