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ETF Comparison

EDGQ vs EDGX: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Global X Nasdaq-100 Income Edge ETF and Global X U.S. 500 Income Edge ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 21, 2026

Best for

  • EDGQInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 12.83%, generated by selling options premium.
  • EDGXInvestors who are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

EDGQ has outpaced EDGX over the shared window since Feb 2026, posting a 20.78% total return against 13.25%. EDGX has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 12.5% against 18.9% for EDGQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolSince Feb 2026Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
EDGQ20.78%18.9%1.452.15-10.1%
EDGX13.25%12.5%1.332.04-7.6%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 22, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Feb 2026” measures every fund from February 18, 2026 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the shared window since Feb 2026. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the shared window since Feb 2026) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricEDGQEDGX
Full nameGlobal X Nasdaq-100 Income Edge ETFGlobal X U.S. 500 Income Edge ETF
IssuerGlobal XGlobal X
Underlying indexNasdaq-100Solactive GBS United States 500 Index
Last Close$27.97 as of September 21, 2026$27.03 as of September 21, 2026
Distribution rate12.83%8.85%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7979
Safety-Adjusted Yield 10.14%6.99%
Expense ratio0.50%0.50%
AUM$11.5M$6.15M
Distribution frequencyWeeklyWeekly
ObjectiveActively managed fund that seeks weekly income by writing call options while holding the equities of the Nasdaq-100 Index, or ETFs with the same economic characteristics.Actively managed fund that seeks weekly income by writing call options while holding the equities of the Solactive GBS United States 500 Index, or ETFs with the same economic characteristics.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date02/17/202602/17/2026
Beta1.28780.9008
Last dividend$0.069 declared, pays 09/24/2026$0.046 declared, pays 09/24/2026
Ex-dividend date09/21/202609/21/2026

Bottom lineChoose EDGQ if you want to maximize current income — roughly 12.83%, generated by selling options premium. Choose EDGX if you are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout. EDGQ and EDGX both use option or derivative overlays. Their tradeoff is the underlying exposure, how each option strategy is implemented, and the yield each targets; either overlay can limit upside participation, so neither offers uncapped price exposure.

How the risk works

Read this before the income numbers below: the strategy mechanics on this page shape what those payouts can cost you.

  • Capped upside and premium dependence. EDGQ and EDGX generate income by selling options, which trades away part of a strong rally in exchange for premium. Distributions can include return of capital, and a payout the underlying assets cannot sustain shows up as NAV erosion over time — the big yield number is not free.

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

ETFs117
Total AUM$95.1B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Global X is known for developing thematic and alternative investment ETFs with a strong emphasis on income-generating strategies. Their 37-fund lineup spans diverse categories including covered call funds, SuperDividend income products, digital assets, commodities, and sector-specific investments, alongside traditional bond and risk-managed income options. Notable tickers like DIV, MLPA, and BCCC reflect their specialization in high-yield and alternative income strategies, positioning them as a provider focused on investors seeking yield-oriented and thematically-driven exposure.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on EDGQ and EDGX.

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Quick verdict

EDGQ (Global X Nasdaq-100 Income Edge ETF) and EDGX (Global X U.S. 500 Income Edge ETF) are both weekly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

EDGQ offers the higher yield at 12.83% vs 8.85% for EDGX. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They have different reference exposures: EDGQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 while EDGX is linked to Solactive GBS United States 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

EDGQ is the larger fund by assets ($11.5M), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose EDGQ

Global X Nasdaq-100 Income Edge ETF

  • Want to maximize current income — EDGQ distributes roughly 12.83% from selling options premium, vs 8.85% for EDGX.
  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.

Choose EDGX

Global X U.S. 500 Income Edge ETF

  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.9 vs 1.3 for EDGQ.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, EDGQ would generate roughly $24.67 cash per distribution, while EDGX would produce $17.02 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay weekly distributions.

EDGQ yield12.83%
EDGX yield8.85%
Cash diff on $10K$7.65

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, EDGQ would cost approximately $500 in fees vs $500 for EDGX (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

EDGQ ER0.50%
EDGX ER0.50%

Strategy & risk

EDGQ is actively managed around Nasdaq-100 exposure with a covered call approach, while EDGX is actively managed around Solactive GBS United States 500 Index exposure with a covered call approach. Beta is 1.2878 for EDGQ and 0.9008 for EDGX, making EDGX the less volatile of the two by this measure.

EDGQ beta1.2878
EDGX beta0.9008

Fund details

EDGQ is managed by Global X (launched 02/17/2026) with $11.5M in assets. EDGX is managed by Global X (launched 02/17/2026) with $6.15M in assets.

EDGQ AUM$11.5M
EDGX AUM$6.15M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for EDGQ and EDGX?

EDGQ currently distributes 12.83% and EDGX 8.85%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is EDGQ or EDGX better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. EDGQ currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between EDGQ and EDGX?

EDGQ (Global X Nasdaq-100 Income Edge ETF) is actively managed around Nasdaq-100 exposure with a covered call approach, while EDGX (Global X U.S. 500 Income Edge ETF) is actively managed around Solactive GBS United States 500 Index exposure with a covered call approach. They are issued by Global X and Global X respectively.

Can I hold both EDGQ and EDGX?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is EDGQ or EDGX safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: EDGQ scores 79, EDGX scores 79. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. EDGX has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.90 vs 1.29 for EDGQ). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee, and the leverage, options-income, or crypto caveats flagged on this page apply regardless of score.

Which has lower fees, EDGQ or EDGX?

EDGQ and EDGX both charge the same expense ratio of 0.50%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

How much income does $10,000 in EDGQ vs EDGX generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in EDGQ would generate roughly $24.67 cash per distribution ($1,283.00 annually). The same in EDGX would produce about $17.02 cash per distribution ($885.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, EDGQ or EDGX?

EDGQ has outpaced EDGX over the shared window since Feb 2026, posting a 20.78% total return against 13.25%. EDGX has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 12.5% against 18.9% for EDGQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

EDGQ vs EDGX — at a glance

Generated September 20, 2026.

Overview

EDGQ and EDGX are both actively managed ETFs that harvest income through weekly call-option writing while holding the underlying equities — EDGQ writes against Nasdaq-100 positions, while EDGX does the same against a broad U.S. 500-stock index. Both launched the same day and charge identical fees, but their distribution rates and equity betas differ materially, reflecting the different volatility profiles and option premiums of their underlying stock baskets.

How they differ

The core difference is asset exposure: EDGQ targets 100 large-cap growth stocks concentrated in technology, while EDGX holds a broader 500-stock U.S. equity index. That concentration drives EDGQ's 12.83% yield versus 8.85% for EDGX — tech stocks' volatility generates richer call premiums. EDGQ's beta of 1.2878 confirms its sensitivity to growth swings; EDGX's 0.9008 sits closer to a market-neutral stance.

Who each is best for

EDGQ: Fits investors who want growth-tilted equity exposure and can tolerate the volatility of tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 holdings in exchange for outsized weekly income from call writing.

EDGX: Fits investors seeking a more diversified U.S. equity base with steady weekly option-derived income, preferring broad exposure over sector concentration.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at high distribution yields. EDGQ's 12.83% annualized rate means near-total capital is paid out yearly. If call premiums shrink or Nasdaq stocks stagnate, the fund may rely on principal erosion to maintain payouts, gradually reducing per-share NAV.
  • Call exercise caps upside gains. Writing calls on either fund means holding stock gains are capped near the strike price. If the Nasdaq rallies hard, EDGQ holders forgo gains above the call strike; EDGX holders face the same truncation across its broader index.
  • Volatility-dependent premium decay. Option premiums compress during low-volatility markets. A sustained period of muted tech (for EDGQ) or broad-market (for EDGX) volatility could shrink income materially below the stated distribution rate.
  • Nasdaq concentration risk specific to EDGQ. A pullback in large-cap tech stocks would pressure both NAV and option premium—a one-two headwind. EDGX's broader 500-stock base offers more cushion during sector weakness.

Bottom line

EDGQ targets investors comfortable with Nasdaq-100 concentration in exchange for a higher weekly income stream funded by call premiums on volatile growth stocks. EDGX appeals to those wanting broad U.S. equity exposure with steadier (though lower) weekly distributions and less downside if tech sells off.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

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