Westwood Enhanced Income Series™ ETF Platform Surpasses $250 Million in Assets

Rhea-AI Summary

Westwood (NYSE: WHG) announced its Westwood Enhanced Income Series™ ETFs surpassed $250 million in assets under management on Feb 19, 2026. Concurrently, the Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST) reached $200 million in AUM.

The series pairs actively managed equity exposure with an options-based income overlay across income-focused ETFs including YLDW and WEEI, aiming to generate distributable monthly income via dividends and covered-call premiums for advisors and investors.

Positive

• Enhanced Income Series surpasses $250 million AUM
• MDST reaches $200 million in assets under management
• Offers combined dividend yield and options premium income generation
• Includes diversified income ETFs across multiple sectors and energy

Negative

• Concentration in energy and midstream via MDST and WEEI
• Platform scale remains modest at $250 million AUM

Key Figures

Enhanced Income Series AUM: $250 million MDST AUM: $200 million Number of ETFs in series: 3 funds

3 metrics

Enhanced Income Series AUM $250 million Westwood Enhanced Income Series ETFs total assets under management

MDST AUM $200 million Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF assets

Number of ETFs in series 3 funds MDST, YLDW and WEEI within the Enhanced Income Series

Market Reality Check

Price: $16.95 Vol: Volume 8,600 is 8% above ...

normal vol

$16.95 Last Close

Volume Volume 8,600 is 8% above the 20-day average of 7,939. normal

Technical Shares are trading below the 200-day MA of 16.81, while the stock sits 10.74% below its 52-week high and 21.07% above its 52-week low.

Peers on Argus

WHG is down 1.3% while peers show mixed moves: EDF (-1.5%), OXSQ (-2.16% in sect...

1 Up

WHG is down 1.3% while peers show mixed moves: EDF (-1.5%), OXSQ (-2.16% in sector list but +1.66% on momentum scan), SPE (-0.8%), TEAF (-0.33%), and OCCI (+0.94%). With only one peer in the momentum scan and mixed directions, the move appears stock-specific rather than sector-driven.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 17 (Negative)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 17	ETF liquidation	Negative	-6.0%	Announcement to close and liquidate the LBRTY Global Equity ETF BFRE.
Feb 13	Earnings results	Positive	-0.3%	Reported higher 2025 revenues, income, EPS and declared cash dividend.
Feb 05	Fund distributions	Neutral	-1.4%	Announced monthly income distributions and disclosed AUM for MDST, WEEI, YLDW.
Jan 30	Earnings call setup	Neutral	+3.3%	Scheduled Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings release and investor webcast.
Jan 14	Fundraising milestone	Positive	+2.3%	Closed energy secondaries fund and co-investments with over $300M in commitments.

Pattern Detected

Recent WHG news often produces modest price moves, with one notable selloff on a fund liquidation and a slight negative reaction to otherwise positive earnings and ETF growth commentary.

Recent Company History

Over the past months, WHG has highlighted growth in energy-related strategies and its ETF platform, including energy secondaries funds with over $300 million in commitments and ETF AUM above $200 million. It also announced monthly distributions for MDST, WEEI and YLDW, and scheduled and then reported Q4 and full-year 2025 results. One ETF (BFRE) is being liquidated. Against this backdrop, today’s announcement that the Enhanced Income Series™ ETFs surpassed $250 million and MDST reached $200 million continues the theme of expanding income-focused ETF offerings.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement underscores continued expansion of Westwood’s income-focused ETF platform, with th...

Analysis

This announcement underscores continued expansion of Westwood’s income-focused ETF platform, with the Enhanced Income Series™ surpassing $250 million in AUM and MDST alone at $200 million. It builds on earlier disclosures of ETF growth and energy-focused capital raising. Investors may track how these strategies contribute to firmwide AUM and revenues over time, alongside developments in other products, fund launches or closures, and future earnings updates to gauge the durability of this income-oriented franchise.

Key Terms

exchange-traded fund (etf), assets under management (aum), mlp, options overlay, +1 more

5 terms

exchange-traded fund (etf) financial

"Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST) reaches $200 million in AUM..."

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a collection of different investments, like stocks or bonds, that can be bought and sold easily on a stock exchange, similar to how shares are traded. It allows investors to diversify their holdings with a single purchase, making it a flexible and convenient way to invest in a broad range of assets without buying each one individually.

assets under management (aum) financial

"...has surpassed $250 million in assets under management (AUM)."

Assets under management (AUM) is the total value of all the investments that a financial company or fund is responsible for overseeing on behalf of its clients. It’s like a bank counting all the money it manages for people and organizations—more AUM generally means the company is trusted with larger amounts and can charge higher fees.

mlp financial

"...portfolio of midstream and MLP energy infrastructure companies with an income-focused options overlay..."

A master limited partnership (MLP) is a publicly traded business structure that passes most profits directly to owners instead of keeping them inside the company, similar to owning a slice of a rental property that pays you regular rent. Investors care because MLPs typically pay higher, steady cash distributions and offer exposure to specific industries (often energy or natural resources), but they come with unique tax reporting and sensitivity to commodity prices and interest rates.

options overlay technical

"...midstream and MLP energy infrastructure companies with an income-focused options overlay..."

An options overlay is a set of option contracts added on top of an existing stock or portfolio to change its risk and return profile without buying or selling the underlying holdings. Like putting a removable roof or awnings on a house, it can generate extra income, limit potential losses, or let you pursue upside with less capital, so investors use it to tailor protection and returns while keeping core positions intact.

covered calls technical

"...combining dividend yield and options premiums from covered calls, while also offering the potential..."

A covered call is a financial strategy where an investor sells the right to buy their owned stock at a specific price within a certain time frame. This allows the investor to earn extra income from the stock they already own, especially if they believe the stock price will stay stable or rise slightly. It helps generate additional earnings while potentially limiting the upside if the stock's price increases significantly.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST) reaches $200 million in AUM

DALLAS, Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westwood Holdings Group (NYSE: WHG), a leading boutique asset manager, today announced the Westwood Enhanced Income Series™ ETFs, a key component of Westwood’s growing ETF platform, has surpassed $250 million in assets under management (AUM).

Concurrently, the Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (NYSE: MDST) which provides access to an actively managed portfolio of midstream and MLP energy infrastructure companies with an income-focused options overlay, has reached $200 million in assets.

“Our Enhanced Income ETFs are helping to allowing investors to access some of the most effective income opportunities in a variety of asset classes and key segments of the energy sector. These products don't just provide cash flow; they provide the structural durability essential to help weather volatility,” said Brian Casey, Chief Executive Officer at Westwood. “This milestone in our ETF AUM growth provides yet more evidence that income-generating investments are now a core pillar of a portfolio, and investors see the value in the resilience and flexibility they provide.”

The Enhanced Income Series™ reinforces Westwood’s position as an innovative provider of income-oriented ETFs across multiple sectors and asset classes. Alongside MDST, Westwood’s income offerings within the ETF suite includes the Westwood Enhanced Income Opportunity ETF (NYSE: YLDW), an actively-managed ETF that seeks to provide income and capital appreciation from a variety of asset classes with an added options-based income component, and the Westwood Salient Enhanced Energy Income ETF (NASDAQ: WEEI), which seeks to provide income and capital appreciation by investing in North American energy companies with an added options-based income component. Collectively, the three funds aim to provide advisors and investors with robust tools for generating high distributable monthly income, combining dividend yield and options premiums from covered calls, while also offering the potential for equity appreciation within the energy sector and beyond.

For more information on the Westwood Enhanced Income Series™ ETFs and other Westwood strategies, please visit westwoodetfs.com.

ABOUT WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.

Westwood Holdings Group (NYSE: WHG) is a boutique asset management firm that offers a diverse array of actively and passively-managed, outcome-oriented investment strategies, along with white-glove trust and wealth services, to institutional, intermediary and private wealth clients. For over 40 years, Westwood’s client-first approach has fostered strong, long-term client relationships due to our unwavering commitment to delivering bespoke investment strategies with a vehicle-optimized approach, exceptional counsel and unparalleled client service. Our flexible and agile approach to investing allows us to adapt to constantly changing markets, while continually seeking innovative strategies that meet our investors’ short and long-term needs.

Our team at Westwood comes from varied backgrounds and life experiences, which reflects our origins as a woman-founded firm. We are committed to incorporating diverse insights and knowledge into all aspects of our services and solutions. Our culture and approach to our business reflect our core values—integrity, reliability, responsiveness, adaptability, teamwork and driving results—and underpin our constant pursuit of excellence.

For more information on Westwood, please visit westwoodgroup.com.

Media Contact:

Tyler Bradford
Hewes Communications 
212.207.9454
tyler@hewescomm.com

To determine if this Fund is an appropriate investment for you, carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risk factors and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus which may be obtained by downloading at westwoodetfs.com or calling 800.994.0755. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Westwood ETFs are distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC. (Member FINRA) Northern Lights Distributors and Westwood ETFs (or Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.) are separate and unaffiliated.

YLDW is newly formed and has limited operating history.

Important Risks
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives, generate profits or avoid losses. The value of the portfolio will fluctuate with the value of the underlying securities. ETFs trade like a stock, and there will be brokerage commissions associated with buying and selling exchange traded funds unless trading occurs in a fee- based account. ETFs may trade for less than their net asset value. Investing in ETFs may not be suitable for all investors. ETFs are subject to loss of principal and there is no guarantee the holdings will continue to pay dividends. Diversification does not ensure a profit and may not protect against loss in declining markets. Investors should refer to the individual ETF prospectus for a more detailed discussion of the specific risks and considerations for an individual ETF.

Covered Call Strategy Risk: This risk arises when an investor holds a long position in a stock and simultaneously sells a call option against it. While this strategy can generate income, it limits potential upside gains if the stock price rises significantly above the strike price of the option.

Counterparty Risk: This is the risk that a counterparty to a financial transaction will default on their obligations. In the context of options trading, counterparty risk arises from the possibility that the option seller (writer) may not be able to fulfill their obligation to deliver the underlying asset if the option expires in-the-money.

Options Risk/Flex Options Risk: This refers to the inherent risks associated with trading options, such as the risk of losing the entire premium paid for an option if it expires out-of-the-money. Flex options risk is a specific type of options risk that arises from the flexibility of flex options, which can be adjusted or exercised under certain conditions.

Portfolio Turnover Risk: This is the risk associated with frequent buying and selling of assets within a portfolio. High portfolio turnover can lead to increased transaction costs, potential capital gains taxes, and the possibility of missing out on potential gains from assets that are sold too early.

Westwood ETFs does not provide tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor before making any decisions or taking any action based on this information.

FAQ

What milestone did Westwood (WHG) announce for its Enhanced Income Series on February 19, 2026?

The Enhanced Income Series surpassed $250 million in assets under management. According to the company, this milestone reflects growing investor interest in income-oriented ETFs combining dividends and options-based income.

How much AUM did the Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST) report on Feb 19, 2026?

MDST reported $200 million in assets under management. According to the company, MDST uses an actively managed midstream equity portfolio with an options overlay to target income-focused investors.

Which ETFs are included in Westwood's Enhanced Income Series and their strategies?

The series includes MDST, YLDW, and WEEI, each with income-focused strategies. According to the company, they combine active equity selection with covered-call or options-based income components across sectors and energy.

What income approach do Westwood Enhanced Income Series ETFs use and why does it matter for investors?

They combine dividend-paying equities with an options-based overlay to generate monthly distributable income. According to the company, this structure aims to increase cash flow while preserving potential for equity appreciation.

How might advisors use Westwood Enhanced Income Series ETFs like YLDW and WEEI in portfolios?

Advisors can use these ETFs to target regular income and potential equity upside within diversified portfolios. According to the company, the funds are designed as tools for generating high distributable monthly income combining dividends and options premiums.

Does Westwood describe the Enhanced Income Series as focused on any sectors that investors should note?

Yes — the series includes dedicated energy and midstream exposure through MDST and WEEI. According to the company, these funds provide targeted access to North American energy companies with an added options-based income component.