In any given year, hundreds of new ETFs come to market. One fund that stood out in 2025 is the NEOS Gold High Income ETF (IAUI), which debuted last June.

IAUI launched amid a torrid gold bull market – one that’s carried over into 2026. It’s not just good timing that’s sent this ETF’s assets under management to north of $367 million as of Feb. 11.

Typically, owning gold directly or bullion-backed ETFs doesn’t deliver dividends or interest payments to investors. IAUI ameliorates that situation and it’s drawing recognition for doing so.

Awards in IAUI’s future?

Obviously, IAUI is gaining traction with income investors and gold bugs alike. The ETF’s assets under management tally confirms as much, but it’s gaining recognition in other ways. For example, the NEOS fund is nominated for best new options income fund of 2025 in the upcoming ETF.com awards.

IAUI is competing with four other funds for that distinction, confirming that’s an illustrious lot because 60 options income ETFs came to market last year, representing more than a third of the category’s total population.

“IAUI applies NEOS’s options income expertise to gold exposure. Gold has always been the income investor’s dilemma—you want the hedge, but it pays nothing. IAUI solves that by harvesting volatility premium through options,” according to ETF.com. “The AUM proves income-focused investors wanted gold exposure with yield.”

Awards and recognition are nice, but what’s more important is how deserving an ETF is of that adulation. A strong case can be made that IAUI is in the “deserving” category. After all, the NEOS ETF has returned more than 23% since inception, confirming investors can have their cake (some upside) and eat it, too (income) with this rookie ETF.

Of course, this actively managed gold options income ETF makes good on the promise of income as highlighted by a 30-day SEC yield of 1.88% and a distribution rate of 12.25%.

“IAUI may serve as an alternative or complement to existing gold allocations, which may offer portfolio diversification, protection against inflation, and a hedge against economic uncertainty. Through IAUI investors can seek those inherent benefits present within gold, while pursuing high monthly income within a single, accessible ETF,” according to the issuer.

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