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ETF Comparison

IQQQ vs ODTE: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF and VegaShares SPX NDX RTY Premium Income ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 18, 2026

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.

IQQQ has outpaced ODTE over the shared window since Apr 2026, posting a 18.34% total return against 5.80%. ODTE has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.8% against 20.1% for IQQQ. 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 Apr 2026Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IQQQ18.34%20.1%1.612.38-11.3%
ODTE5.80%13.8%0.570.79-7.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Apr 2026” measures every fund from April 6, 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 Apr 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 Apr 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.
MetricIQQQODTE
Full nameProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETFVegaShares SPX NDX RTY Premium Income ETF
IssuerProSharesVegaShares
Last Close$48.42 as of September 18, 2026$25.00 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate5.69%14.14%
Distribution Safety Score™ 6750
Safety-Adjusted Yield 3.81%—
Expense ratio0.55%0.76%
AUM$398M$2.75M
Distribution frequencyMonthlyWeekly
Underlying indexNasdaq-100S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Russell 2000
ObjectiveIQQQ targets high income potential with long-term total returns similar to the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 indexSeeks weekly income by investing at least 80% of net assets in the constituents of the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100 and Russell 2000 indices, or instruments linked to them, alongside an options premium strategy.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date03/08/202404/03/2026
Beta1.2356—
Last dividend$0.2296$0.068 payable today
Ex-dividend date09/01/202609/17/2026

Bottom lineWe won't call this one: ODTE launched April 2026, so there is not yet a track record to compare. Compare the strategy, cost and holdings in the sections above and treat any performance figures for the newer ETF as provisional.

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. ODTE 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

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Income calculator

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

ProShares
ETFs170
Total AUM$123B

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

ProShares is known for offering leveraged and inverse ETFs that provide amplified exposure to market movements, along with thematic and income-focused strategies. Their fund lineup spans digital assets (including Bitcoin and Ethereum exposure through BITO and EETH), dividend strategies like the Dividend Aristocrats fund (NOBL), covered call income strategies, and leveraged/inverse products that track major indices with 2x or 3x daily multipliers (such as SSO and TQQQ for tech-heavy portfolios). With 23 ETFs across specialized families including leveraged products, money market funds, and sector-specific offerings, ProShares serves investors seeking both traditional income and alternative exposure strategies.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IQQQ.

See all ProShares ETFs
VegaShares
ETFs5
Total AUM$60.9M

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

VegaShares specializes in options-based and thematic ETFs designed to generate income and capitalize on emerging trends. The issuer's lineup spans income-focused strategies, including covered call funds, alongside thematic offerings that target specific market segments and innovation themes. VegaShares serves investors seeking alternative approaches to traditional equity exposure, with a concentrated portfolio of strategically named funds addressing both income generation and sector-specific growth opportunities.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ODTE.

See all VegaShares ETFs

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Quick verdict

IQQQ (ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) and ODTE (VegaShares SPX NDX RTY Premium Income ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

ODTE offers the higher yield at 14.14% vs 5.69% for IQQQ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

IQQQ is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.55% compared to 0.76%.

They have different reference exposures: IQQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 while ODTE is linked to S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Russell 2000, which means their performance drivers differ.

IQQQ has $398M in assets vs $2.75M for ODTE, but ODTE only launched April 2026 — AUM comparisons will become more meaningful as it builds a track record.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IQQQ would generate roughly $47.42/month, while ODTE would produce $117.83/month, at current distribution rates.

IQQQ yield5.69%
ODTE yield14.14%
Monthly diff on $10K$70.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IQQQ would cost approximately $550 in fees vs $760 for ODTE (simplified, not compounded). The $210.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IQQQ ER0.55%
ODTE ER0.76%

Strategy & risk

Both IQQQ and ODTE wrap NASDAQ 100 with options-based income overlays (basket and covered call). The practical differences are yield target, fee structure, and issuer track record — not the underlying mechanic.

IQQQ beta1.2356
ODTE beta—

Fund details

IQQQ is managed by ProShares (launched 03/08/2024) with $398M in assets. ODTE is managed by VegaShares (launched 04/03/2026) with $2.75M in assets.

IQQQ AUM$398M
ODTE AUM$2.75M
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IQQQ and ODTE?

IQQQ currently distributes 5.69% and ODTE 14.14%, 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 IQQQ or ODTE better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. ODTE 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 IQQQ and ODTE?

Both IQQQ (ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) and ODTE (VegaShares SPX NDX RTY Premium Income ETF) track NASDAQ 100 with options-based income strategies — the labels "basket" and "covered call" describe closely related mechanics (covered calls are a specific type of options strategy). The real differences show up in yield target (5.69% vs 14.14%), expense ratio (0.55% vs 0.76%), and issuer (ProShares vs VegaShares).

Can I hold both IQQQ and ODTE?

You can, but expect significant overlap. Both funds use options-based income strategies on NASDAQ 100, so holding them together gives you two wrappers around effectively the same exposure — not true diversification. Weigh issuer, fee, and yield differences rather than treating them as complementary.

Is IQQQ or ODTE safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — IQQQ scores 67, ODTE scores 50, so IQQQ's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. 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, IQQQ or ODTE?

IQQQ has an expense ratio of 0.55% while ODTE charges 0.76%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in IQQQ vs ODTE generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IQQQ would generate roughly $47.42 per month ($569.00 annually). The same in ODTE would produce about $117.83 per month ($1,414.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IQQQ or ODTE?

IQQQ has outpaced ODTE over the shared window since Apr 2026, posting a 18.34% total return against 5.80%. ODTE has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.8% against 20.1% for IQQQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IQQQ vs ODTE — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

IQQQ and ODTE are both equity ETFs seeking to generate income through covered call strategies, but they differ fundamentally in scope and frequency.

How they differ

ODTE's 14.14% distribution rate versus IQQQ's 5.69% reflects ODTE's multi-index options strategy hitting for substantially higher income. IQQQ isolates Nasdaq-100 exposure (1.2356 beta) through a covered call overlay, delivering tech concentration with moderate income enhancement. ODTE diversifies across three major indices—large-cap, mega-cap tech, and small-cap—reducing single-sector concentration but adding complexity. ODTE's 0.76% expense ratio edges above IQQQ's 0.55%, a modest cost difference that tightens as yield spreads widen.

Who each is best for

IQQQ: Fits investors drawn to Nasdaq-100 exposure who want option-generated income without broad diversification, accept monthly payout timing, and can tolerate single-sector concentration in exchange for a larger, more established fund structure.

ODTE: Designed for income-focused investors comfortable with aggressive weekly distributions, willing to accept multi-index blending across market caps as a proxy for diversification, and tolerant of early-stage fund risk for the yield uplift that weekly options premium can provide.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at extreme distribution yields. ODTE's 14.14% annualized distribution rate, if sustained via options premium rather than underlying index appreciation, carries meaningful risk of gradual net asset value decline over time. IQQQ's lower yield 5.69% reduces this exposure.
  • Options and derivative concentration risk. ODTE's weekly options overlay on three indices introduces path-dependent losses if the covered call premium underperforms realized index volatility, particularly during sharp rallies when short calls are exercised. IQQQ's simpler monthly covered call strategy has similar but less frequent refresh risk.
  • Early inception and strategy unproven history. ODTE's 04/03/2026 inception date provides minimal real-world performance history across market cycles, making it harder to assess whether its weekly distribution target is sustainable in bear markets or rising-volatility periods. Either way, distributions this high rely partly on return-of-capital treatment or premium decay, and past performance doesn't predict 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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