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ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated August 15, 2026

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricODTEQQQI
Full nameVegaShares SPX NDX RTY Premium Income ETFNEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF
IssuerVegaSharesNEOS
Last Close$26.21 as of August 15, 2026$55.79 as of August 15, 2026
Distribution yield14.88%13.66%
Distribution Safety Score™ 5084
Expense ratio0.76%0.68%
AUM$3.12M$13.9B
Distribution frequencyWeeklyMonthly
Underlying indexS&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Russell 2000NASDAQ 100
ObjectiveSeeks 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.Seeks to generate high monthly income in a tax efficient manner while targeting equity appreciation.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date04/03/202601/29/2024
Beta1.0553
Last dividend$0.0750$0.6350
Ex-dividend date08/13/202607/22/2026

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 and QQQI 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.

ETFs5
Total AUM$39.4M

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.

ETFs19
Total AUM$31.6B

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

NEOS is known for developing specialized income-focused ETFs that employ strategies like covered calls, hedging, and enhanced yields across various asset classes. The firm manages 19 funds organized into nine distinct families, including offerings in equity high income, fixed income enhancement, digital assets, and alternative strategies, with popular tickers like SPYI (S&P 500 covered call), QQQI (Nasdaq-100 covered call), and QQQH (Nasdaq-100 hedged equity income). NEOS distinguishes itself in the ETF landscape through its emphasis on income generation and downside protection strategies rather than traditional growth approaches.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QQQI.

Want to go deeper?

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

ODTE has lagged QQQI over the year to date, posting a 9.44% total return against 12.66%. ODTE has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.5% against 19.4% for QQQI. 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.
SymbolYTDSince Apr 2026Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
ODTE9.44%9.44%14.5%1.412.00-7.0%
QQQI12.66%15.70%19.4%1.852.76-9.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Apr 2026” measures every fund from April 6, 2026 — 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 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.

Quick verdict

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

ODTE offers the higher yield at 14.88% vs 13.66% for QQQI. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

QQQI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.68% compared to 0.76%.

They track different benchmarks: ODTE is linked to S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Russell 2000 while QQQI tracks NASDAQ 100, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQI has $13.9B in assets vs $3.12M 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, ODTE would generate roughly $124.00/month, while QQQI would produce $113.83/month, at current distribution rates.

ODTE yield14.88%
QQQI yield13.66%
Monthly diff on $10K$10.17

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, ODTE would cost approximately $760 in fees vs $680 for QQQI (simplified, not compounded). The $80.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

ODTE ER0.76%
QQQI ER0.68%

Strategy & risk

Both ODTE and QQQI wrap S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Russell 2000 with options-based income overlays (covered call and options). The practical differences are yield target, fee structure, and issuer track record — not the underlying mechanic.

ODTE beta
QQQI beta1.0553

Fund details

ODTE is managed by VegaShares (launched 04/03/2026) with $3.12M in assets. QQQI is managed by NEOS (launched 01/29/2024) with $13.9B in assets.

ODTE AUM$3.12M
QQQI AUM$13.9B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for ODTE and QQQI?

ODTE currently distributes 14.88% and QQQI 13.66%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is ODTE or QQQI 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 ODTE and QQQI?

Both ODTE (VegaShares SPX NDX RTY Premium Income ETF) and QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) track S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Russell 2000 with options-based income strategies — the labels "covered call" and "options" describe closely related mechanics (covered calls are a specific type of options strategy). The real differences show up in yield target (14.88% vs 13.66%), expense ratio (0.76% vs 0.68%), and issuer (VegaShares vs NEOS).

Can I hold both ODTE and QQQI?

You can, but expect significant overlap. Both funds use options-based income strategies on S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Russell 2000, 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 ODTE or QQQI safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — QQQI scores 84, ODTE scores 50, so QQQI'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, ODTE or QQQI?

ODTE has an expense ratio of 0.76% while QQQI charges 0.68%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in ODTE would generate roughly $124.00 per month ($1,488.00 annually). The same in QQQI would produce about $113.83 per month ($1,366.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ODTE or QQQI?

ODTE has lagged QQQI over the year to date, posting a 9.44% total return against 12.66%. ODTE has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.5% against 19.4% for QQQI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

ODTE vs QQQI — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

Both ODTE and QQQI are equity ETFs that layer options strategies atop large-cap stock indices to generate high monthly or weekly distributions. ODTE holds a diversified basket across the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, and Russell 2000 while selling 0DTE (zero days-to-expiration) weekly call options; QQQI focuses exclusively on the Nasdaq-100 and sells calls on a monthly cycle. The key distinction is frequency and concentration: ODTE chases weekly income across three indices using ultra-short-dated options, while QQQI targets monthly distributions with a focused Nasdaq-100 exposure.

How they differ

ODTE's 0DTE call-selling strategy generates distributions every week—its 14.88% rate reflects rapid, high-frequency option expiry and re-entry cycles. QQQI uses a monthly call-writing rhythm on Nasdaq-100 constituents, yielding 13.66% annually. ODTE holds just $3.12M in assets and launched in April 2026, while QQQI has $13.9B in AUM and a track record dating to January 2024, suggesting much greater operational maturity and liquidity depth. On fees, QQQI's 0.68% expense ratio undercuts ODTE's 0.76%, a modest 8-basis-point difference. ODTE's multi-index approach differs structurally from QQQI's single-index tilt, adding complexity across three option chains rather than concentrating on one.

Who each is best for

ODTE: Fits income investors seeking maximum distribution frequency and willing to tolerate weekly rebalancing mechanics and extreme short-dated option risk in exchange for rapid income payouts.

QQQI: Designed for Nasdaq-focused equity allocators who prefer monthly income distributions and want a larger, more-established fund with deeper trading liquidity and tax-efficiency built into the monthly call-writing rhythm.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at extreme distribution yields. ODTE's 14.88% annualized rate—paired with 0DTE option cycles that reset weekly—creates structural pressure for return-of-capital treatment and steady NAV decline unless Nasdaq-100 and broader-market gains substantially exceed distributions. The same risk exists at QQQI's 13.66% rate, though monthly rebalancing may better absorb volatility.
  • 0DTE execution and liquidity risk (ODTE specific). Weekly expiration and re-entry across three index option chains introduces slippage, bid-ask friction, and timing risk that longer-dated call writing does not. A gap move over a weekend or liquidity event could force ODTE to cover at unfavorable prices.
  • Concentrated Nasdaq exposure (QQQI specific). QQQI's exclusive Nasdaq-100 tilt amplifies sensitivity to technology sector downturns and leaves the fund defenseless if large-cap growth underperforms value or cyclicals. Its beta of 1.0553 confirms elevated market sensitivity compared to ODTE's reported beta of 0.0.
  • Small asset base and limited track record (ODTE specific). At $3.12M AUM and a 2026 inception, ODTE offers minimal operational history and liquidity; tight spreads and reliable execution cannot be assumed.
  • Call-writing collar risk for both. Both funds cap upside through continuous covered call strategies; investors forgo participation in large rallies. In sustained bull markets, distributions may prove less attractive than unhedged equity returns.

Bottom line

ODTE chases maximum income frequency with exposure across three indices but carries acute execution, illiquidity, and NAV-erosion risks tied to its micro-scale and ultra-short option cycle. QQQI offers a larger fund, deeper liquidity, and tax-efficient monthly income with proven track record, but locks exposure into the Nasdaq-100 and carries an equally high distribution yield. If you value income frequency and multi-index exposure, ODTE's weekly model appeals; if you prioritize fund stability and Nasdaq-focused returns, QQQI's monthly approach and $13.9B asset base stand out. Past performance does not predict future results, and both strategies depend on continued call premium generation and moderate equity returns to sustain stated distribution rates.

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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