FCEF Distribution History & Yield

First Trust Income Opportunities ETF

ETF Monthly payer High yield
$23.96
-0.07% today
as of Sep 9, 2026
TTM yield
6.84%
$1.638/share over the last 12 months
Forward yield
6.84%
$1.638/share indicated annual rate
Annual distribution
$1.638
per share, forward
Per payment
$0.1365
per share, every month
Frequency
Monthly
12 payments a year
Next ex-distribution date
Sep 9, 2026 Estimated
today
Next pay date
Sep 23, 2026
in 14 days
Last ex-distribution date
Aug 11, 2026
$0.138 per share
Expense ratio
n/a
assets n/a
Consistency
99/100
very stable payouts
5y distribution CAGR
+7.5%
annualised, regular payments
Growth streak
0 yrs
no current streak
Years paying
9.9
since Oct 21, 2016
1y total return
+12.3%
price +5.1% + distributions 7.2%

Upcoming distribution payments

Ex-datePay datePer sharePer 100 sharesStatus
Wed, Sep 9, 2026 (today) Sep 23, 2026 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Thu, Oct 8, 2026 (in 29 days) Oct 22, 2026 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Fri, Nov 6, 2026 (in 58 days) Nov 20, 2026 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 (in 87 days) Dec 19, 2026 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Sun, Jan 3, 2027 (in 116 days) Jan 17, 2027 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Mon, Feb 1, 2027 (in 145 days) Feb 15, 2027 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Tue, Mar 2, 2027 (in 174 days) Mar 16, 2027 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Wed, Mar 31, 2027 (in 203 days) Apr 14, 2027 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Thu, Apr 29, 2027 (in 232 days) May 13, 2027 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Fri, May 28, 2027 (in 261 days) Jun 11, 2027 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Sat, Jun 26, 2027 (in 290 days) Jul 10, 2027 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated
Sun, Jul 25, 2027 (in 319 days) Aug 8, 2027 $0.1365 $13.65 Estimated

Estimated dates and amounts are projected from FCEF's recent payment pattern and will be replaced by declared figures when the fund announces them. Total over the next 12 months: about $1.7745 per share.

Distribution payment history

Last 40 payments per share. RegularSpecial

Last 40 payments per share from May 11, 2023 to Aug 11, 2026; most recent $0.138$0.00$0.075$0.15May 11, 2023: $0.118May '23Jun 13, 2023: $0.118Jul 11, 2023: $0.118Aug 11, 2023: $0.118Sep 12, 2023: $0.118Oct 11, 2023: $0.12Oct '23Nov 14, 2023: $0.12Dec 12, 2023: $0.12Jan 11, 2024: $0.12Feb 13, 2024: $0.12Mar 12, 2024: $0.125Mar '24Apr 11, 2024: $0.125May 14, 2024: $0.125Jun 11, 2024: $0.125Jul 11, 2024: $0.13Aug 13, 2024: $0.13Aug '24Sep 11, 2024: $0.135Oct 11, 2024: $0.135Nov 13, 2024: $0.135Dec 11, 2024: $0.135Jan 14, 2025: $0.135Jan '25Feb 11, 2025: $0.135Mar 11, 2025: $0.135Apr 11, 2025: $0.135May 13, 2025: $0.135Jun 11, 2025: $0.135Jun '25Jul 11, 2025: $0.135Aug 12, 2025: $0.135Sep 11, 2025: $0.135Oct 14, 2025: $0.135Nov 12, 2025: $0.135Nov '25Dec 11, 2025: $0.135Jan 13, 2026: $0.135Feb 11, 2026: $0.135Mar 11, 2026: $0.138Apr 14, 2026: $0.138Apr '26May 12, 2026: $0.138Jun 11, 2026: $0.138Jul 14, 2026: $0.138Aug 11, 2026: $0.138

Annual distributions per share

Annual dividend per share by calendar year, 2017 to 2026 (year to date)$0.00$1.00$2.002017: $1.072$1.07220172018: $1.125$1.12520182019: $1.17$1.1720192020: $1.137$1.13720202021: $1.215$1.21520212022: $1.407$1.40720222023: $1.422$1.42220232024: $1.54$1.5420242025: $1.62$1.6220252026 (YTD): $1.098$1.0982026 YTD

How much FCEF do you need for monthly income?

Target incomeShares neededCapital at today's pricePer year
$100 / month733$17,555$1,200
$500 / month3,664$87,777$6,000
$1,000 / month7,327$175,553$12,000

Based on the forward yield of 6.84%. $10,000 in FCEF would currently pay about $684 a year ($57 a month on average). Model reinvestment and growth →

FCEF distribution history

Show recent only Download CSV
Ex-datePay dateAmountChange
Aug 11, 2026 $0.138 +0.0%
Jul 14, 2026 $0.138 +0.0%
Jun 11, 2026 $0.138 +0.0%
May 12, 2026 $0.138 +0.0%
Apr 14, 2026 $0.138 +0.0%
Mar 11, 2026 $0.138 +2.2%
Feb 11, 2026 $0.135 +0.0%
Jan 13, 2026 $0.135 +0.0%
Dec 11, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Nov 12, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Oct 14, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Sep 11, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Aug 12, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Jul 11, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Jun 11, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
May 13, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Apr 11, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Mar 11, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Feb 11, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Jan 14, 2025 $0.135 +0.0%
Dec 11, 2024 $0.135 +0.0%
Nov 13, 2024 $0.135 +0.0%
Oct 11, 2024 $0.135 +0.0%
Sep 11, 2024 $0.135 +3.8%
Aug 13, 2024 $0.13 +0.0%
Jul 11, 2024 $0.13 +4.0%
Jun 11, 2024 $0.125 +0.0%
May 14, 2024 $0.125 +0.0%
Apr 11, 2024 $0.125 +0.0%
Mar 12, 2024 $0.125 +4.2%
Feb 13, 2024 $0.12 +0.0%
Jan 11, 2024 $0.12 +0.0%
Dec 12, 2023 $0.12 +0.0%
Nov 14, 2023 $0.12 +0.0%
Oct 11, 2023 $0.12 +1.7%
Sep 12, 2023 $0.118 +0.0%
Aug 11, 2023 $0.118 +0.0%
Jul 11, 2023 $0.118 +0.0%
Jun 13, 2023 $0.118 +0.0%
May 11, 2023 $0.118 +0.0%
Apr 11, 2023 $0.118 +0.0%
Mar 14, 2023 $0.118 +0.0%
Feb 14, 2023 $0.118 +0.0%
Jan 11, 2023 $0.118 +0.0%
Dec 13, 2022 $0.118 +0.0%
Nov 14, 2022 $0.118 +0.0%
Oct 12, 2022 $0.118 +0.0%
Sep 13, 2022 $0.118 +0.0%
Aug 11, 2022 $0.118 +0.0%
Jul 12, 2022 $0.118 +0.0%
Jun 14, 2022 $0.118 +0.0%
May 11, 2022 $0.118 +0.0%
Apr 12, 2022 $0.118 +2.6%
Mar 11, 2022 $0.115 +0.0%
Feb 11, 2022 $0.115 +0.0%
Jan 11, 2022 $0.115 +4.5%
Dec 14, 2021 $0.11 +0.0%
Nov 12, 2021 $0.11 +0.0%
Oct 13, 2021 $0.11 +4.8%
Sep 14, 2021 $0.105 +0.0%
Aug 11, 2021 $0.105 +0.0%
Jul 13, 2021 $0.105 +5.0%
Jun 11, 2021 $0.10 +0.0%
May 11, 2021 $0.10 +0.0%
Apr 13, 2021 $0.10 +11.1%
Mar 11, 2021 $0.09 +0.0%
Feb 11, 2021 $0.09 +0.0%
Jan 12, 2021 $0.09 +0.0%
Dec 11, 2020 $0.09 +0.0%
Nov 12, 2020 $0.09 +0.0%
Oct 14, 2020 $0.09 -3.2%
Sep 11, 2020 $0.093 +0.0%
Aug 11, 2020 $0.093 +0.0%
Jul 14, 2020 $0.093 -5.1%
Jun 11, 2020 $0.098 +0.0%
May 12, 2020 $0.098 +0.0%
Apr 13, 2020 $0.098 +0.0%
Mar 11, 2020 $0.098 +0.0%
Feb 11, 2020 $0.098 +0.0%
Jan 14, 2020 $0.098 +0.0%
Dec 11, 2019 $0.098 +0.0%
Nov 13, 2019 $0.098 +0.0%
Oct 11, 2019 $0.098 +0.0%
Sep 11, 2019 $0.098 +0.0%
Aug 13, 2019 $0.098 +0.0%
Jul 11, 2019 $0.098 +0.0%
Jun 11, 2019 $0.098 +0.0%
May 14, 2019 $0.098 +0.0%
Apr 11, 2019 $0.098 +0.0%
Mar 12, 2019 $0.098 +3.2%
Feb 12, 2019 $0.095 +0.0%
Jan 11, 2019 $0.095 +0.0%
Dec 11, 2018 $0.095 +0.0%
Nov 9, 2018 $0.095 +0.0%
Oct 11, 2018 $0.095 +0.0%
Sep 11, 2018 $0.095 +0.0%
Aug 10, 2018 $0.095 +0.0%
Jul 11, 2018 $0.095 +0.0%
Jun 12, 2018 $0.095 +0.0%
May 11, 2018 $0.095 +0.0%
Apr 11, 2018 $0.095 +5.6%
Mar 13, 2018 $0.09 +0.0%
Feb 13, 2018 $0.09 +0.0%
Jan 11, 2018 $0.09 +9.8%
Dec 21, 2017 $0.082 -8.9%
Nov 21, 2017 $0.09 +0.0%
Oct 20, 2017 $0.09 +0.0%
Sep 21, 2017 $0.09 +28.6%
Aug 22, 2017 $0.07 +0.0%
Jul 21, 2017 $0.07 -6.7%
Jun 22, 2017 $0.075 -11.8%
May 23, 2017 $0.085 -15.0%
Apr 21, 2017 $0.10 -9.1%
Mar 23, 2017 $0.11 +10.0%
Feb 22, 2017 $0.10 -9.1%
Jan 20, 2017 $0.11 +19.6%
Dec 21, 2016 $0.092 -16.4%
Nov 22, 2016 $0.11 +10.0%
Oct 21, 2016 $0.10

Payout risk check

Distribution stabilityLow risk

FCEF's last 12 distributions were very stable (consistency score 99/100).

Its share price moved +5.1% over the past year.

This is a rule-based screen computed from public data, not a rating or a recommendation. Read our guide to yield traps for what the signals mean.

About First Trust Income Opportunities ETF

First distribution on our records: Oct 21, 2016. 119 payments tracked. Data last refreshed Sep 9, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll fix it.

FCEF distribution FAQ

When is FCEF's next ex-distribution date?

FCEF's next ex-distribution date is Sep 9, 2026 (today, estimated from its monthly schedule). You must own the shares before that date to receive the payment of about $0.1365 per share, expected on Sep 23, 2026.

How often does FCEF pay distributions?

FCEF pays distributions every month, 12 times a year. The most recent payment was $0.138 per share with an ex-date of Aug 11, 2026.

What is FCEF's distribution yield?

FCEF's trailing 12-month distribution yield is 6.84%, based on $1.638 per share paid over the last year and a share price of $23.96. The forward yield, using the indicated annual rate of $1.638 per share, is 6.84%.

How much does FCEF pay per share?

FCEF pays about $0.1365 per share each month, which works out to roughly $1.638 per share a year. 100 shares would collect about $163.80 a year.

Has FCEF grown or cut its distribution?

Over the last 5 years the regular payout has grown at 7.5% a year (+1.1% over the last year). There has been no cut to a regular payment in the last 5 years. As a fund, FCEF's distributions vary with the income its holdings generate, so payouts are not designed to rise every year the way a dividend-growth stock's are.

How many shares of FCEF do I need to earn $100 a month?

At the current forward yield of 6.84%, you would need about 733 shares of FCEF (roughly $17,555 invested at today's price) to collect $1,200 a year, or $100 a month on average, before taxes. Payments arrive every month, so the monthly figure is an average.

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