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ETF Comparison

GIAX vs QQQ: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Nicholas Global Equity and Income ETF and Invesco QQQ Trust covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

  • GIAXInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 23.26%, generated by selling options premium.
  • QQQInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

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

GIAX has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.64% total return against 26.73%. Measured from Jul 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQ has compounded at 24.67% a year versus 15.32% for GIAX. QQQ has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 19.6% against 26.3% for GIAX. 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.
SymbolYTD1YSince Jul 2024Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
GIAX15.58%19.64%15.32%26.3%0.510.71-19.6%
QQQ17.54%26.73%24.67%19.6%0.981.40-12.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Jul 2024” measures every fund from July 30, 2024 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the past year. 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 past year) — 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.
MetricGIAXQQQ
Full nameNicholas Global Equity and Income ETFInvesco QQQ Trust
IssuerNicholas Wealth ManagementInvesco
Underlying indexa basket of Nicholas Growth & Income Equity ETF holdingsNasdaq-100 Index
Last Close$16.21 as of September 4, 2026$718.96 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate23.26%0.45%
Distribution Safety Score™ 6597
Safety-Adjusted Yield 15.12%0.44%
Expense ratio1.03%0.18%
AUM$112M$484B
Distribution frequencyWeeklyQuarterly
ObjectiveGIAX is an actively managed exchange-traded fund that seeks to generate current income and also capital appreciation. The Fund’s strategy includes two components: holding shares of unaffiliated passively managed ETFs that seek to provide exposure to a range of global equity securities and selling daily index credit call spreads on one or more US equity indexes.Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date07/29/202403/10/1999
Beta1.52061.26
Last dividend$0.0725 declared, pays 09/08/2026$0.8135
Ex-dividend date09/04/202606/22/2026

Bottom lineChoose GIAX if you want to maximize current income — roughly 23.26%, generated by selling options premium. Choose QQQ if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside. There's no free lunch: GIAX's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while QQQ keeps full 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. GIAX generates 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.

Learn the mechanics: Return of capital, explained · NAV erosion, explained

Model this comparison:
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Income calculator

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

Nicholas Wealth Management
ETFs14
Total AUM$716M

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

Nicholas Wealth Management is known for offering specialized ETFs across digital assets, income generation, and thematic investing strategies. Their fund lineup spans emerging asset classes including cryptocurrency and blockchain exposure, traditional income-focused strategies, and sector-specific themes ranging from nuclear energy to nightlife, appealing to investors seeking both alternative investments and targeted sector exposure. The issuer maintains a focused but diversified portfolio of tickers that caters to both conventional income seekers and those pursuing niche, forward-looking investment themes.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on GIAX.

See all Nicholas Wealth Management ETFs
Invesco
ETFs246
Total AUM$993B

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

Invesco is a major ETF provider known for offering a comprehensive lineup spanning multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company specializes in income-focused products including dividend, covered call, and bond strategies, while also maintaining broad exposure across equity, factor-based, thematic, and ESG investing themes. Invesco's portfolio ranges from index-tracking funds to alternatives and specialized offerings like digital assets and BulletShares, making it one of the more expansive ETF families available to investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QQQ.

See all Invesco ETFs

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Quick verdict

GIAX (Nicholas Global Equity and Income ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

GIAX offers the higher yield at 23.26% vs 0.45% for QQQ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

QQQ is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.18% compared to 1.03%.

They have different reference exposures: GIAX is linked to a basket of Nicholas Growth & Income Equity ETF holdings while QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($484B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose GIAX

Nicholas Global Equity and Income ETF

  • Want to maximize current income — GIAX distributes roughly 23.26% from selling options premium, vs 0.45% for QQQ.
  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.

Choose QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust

  • Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.18% expense ratio vs 1.03% for GIAX.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.3 vs 1.5 for GIAX.

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, GIAX would generate roughly $193.83/month, while QQQ would produce $3.75/month, at current distribution rates.

GIAX yield23.26%
QQQ yield0.45%
Monthly diff on $10K$190.08

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, GIAX would cost approximately $1,030 in fees vs $180 for QQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $850.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

GIAX ER1.03%
QQQ ER0.18%

Strategy & risk

GIAX is actively managed around a basket of Nicholas Growth & Income Equity ETF holdings exposure with an options approach, while QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.5206 for GIAX and 1.26 for QQQ, making QQQ the less volatile of the two by this measure.

GIAX beta1.5206
QQQ beta1.26

Fund details

GIAX is managed by Nicholas Wealth Management (launched 07/29/2024) with $112M in assets. QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $484B in assets.

GIAX AUM$112M
QQQ AUM$484B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for GIAX and QQQ?

GIAX currently distributes 23.26% and QQQ 0.45%, 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 GIAX or QQQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. GIAX 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 GIAX and QQQ?

GIAX (Nicholas Global Equity and Income ETF) is actively managed around a basket of Nicholas Growth & Income Equity ETF holdings exposure with an options approach, while QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. They are issued by Nicholas Wealth Management and Invesco respectively.

Can I hold both GIAX and QQQ?

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 GIAX or QQQ safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — QQQ scores 97, GIAX scores 65, so QQQ's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. QQQ has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.26 vs 1.52 for GIAX). 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, GIAX or QQQ?

GIAX has an expense ratio of 1.03% while QQQ charges 0.18%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in GIAX vs QQQ generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in GIAX would generate roughly $193.83 per month ($2,326.00 annually). The same in QQQ would produce about $3.75 per month ($45.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, GIAX or QQQ?

GIAX has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.64% total return against 26.73%. Measured from Jul 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQ has compounded at 24.67% a year versus 15.32% for GIAX. QQQ has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 19.6% against 26.3% for GIAX. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

GIAX vs QQQ — at a glance

Generated September 5, 2026.

Overview

GIAX is an actively managed ETF that blends exposure to global equities with a daily options overlay strategy, selling call spreads to generate income. QQQ is a passive index ETF tracking the Nasdaq-100, consisting of 100 of the largest non-financial stocks on the Nasdaq. The funds represent opposite ends of the active-to-passive spectrum and differ radically in income generation—one synthetic, one organic.

How they differ

GIAX's strategy hinges on selling index call spreads daily to harvest premium, layered atop a basket of passive global equity holdings. QQQ simply holds the 100 stocks in the Nasdaq-100 Index and relies on dividends from those companies. GIAX charges 1.03% in fees versus 0.18% for QQQ, reflecting the operational complexity of daily options management. QQQ has $484B in assets under management against GIAX's $112M, and QQQ has been in operation since 03/10/1999, while GIAX launched in 07/29/2024.

Who each is best for

GIAX: Fits income-focused investors seeking current cash flow from equity exposure and willing to accept higher expense ratios, active management, and options-based complexity in exchange for synthetic yield generation.

QQQ: Designed for growth and technology-weighted investors comfortable with minimal income and preferring broad, low-cost exposure to large-cap Nasdaq stocks over multi-year periods.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at 23%+ yield: GIAX's 23.26% distribution rate materially exceeds any reasonable total-return expectation from its underlying equity holdings alone. Sustaining this yield likely requires significant return-of-capital treatment or drawdown of net asset value over time.
  • Options overlay convexity: Daily call-spread selling caps upside during rallies while retaining downside exposure. In sharp rallies (particularly in tech-heavy markets), short call losses may accelerate losses beyond those of an unhedged equity position, despite the high beta of 1.5206.
  • Concentration in global vs. Nasdaq-100 bias: GIAX targets global equities, while QQQ is concentrated in US large-cap growth and technology. Their exposures likely differ significantly; the overlap of specific holdings is not provided, so verify their actual common positions before assuming complementarity.
  • Extreme yield sustainability: Weekly distributions of 23.26% annualized are unlikely to be generated by realized capital gains or dividends; they suggest the fund is in a negative-carry position relative to its target price or relying heavily on principal return.
  • Small AUM and liquidity: GIAX's $112M in assets is over 4,000× smaller than QQQ's $484B, raising questions about fund viability and bid-ask spreads over time.

Bottom line

If you prioritize current income and accept active management and options complexity, GIAX's 23.26% yield stands out—though verify the sustainability of that rate and understand the NAV-erosion risk it implies. If you want low-cost exposure to large-cap US growth and technology with minimal complexity, QQQ's 0.18% fee and broad passive structure offer durability. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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.

How covered-call funds work How to read a fund's stats The covered-call opportunity cost

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