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ETF Comparison

QDTE vs QQQ: Weekly 0DTE Cash, or the Full Nasdaq-100?

A head-to-head of Roundhill's Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call and the Invesco QQQ Trust covering the overlay, cost, and upside kept.

Data updated August 21, 2026

Best for

  • QDTEInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 50.11%, 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

QDTE has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.11% total return against 26.68%. Measured from Mar 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQ has compounded at 21.80% a year versus 20.36% for QDTE. 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 Mar 2024Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QDTE14.13%26.11%20.36%18.1%1.031.44-10.2%
QQQ16.64%26.68%21.80%19.6%0.981.41-12.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 21, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Mar 2024” measures every fund from March 7, 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.
MetricQDTEQQQ
Full nameRoundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETFInvesco QQQ Trust
IssuerRoundhill InvestmentsInvesco
Last Close$28.95 as of August 21, 2026$713.44 as of August 21, 2026
Distribution yield50.11%0.46%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7697
Expense ratio0.96%0.18%
AUM$958M$485B
Distribution frequencyWeeklyQuarterly
Underlying indexNasdaq-100Nasdaq-100 Index
ObjectiveSeeks weekly income by investing at least 80% of net assets in instruments that provide exposure to the Nasdaq-100 Index and writing zero-days-to-expiration (0DTE) call options against that exposure.Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date03/07/202403/10/1999
Beta1.19031.26
Last dividend$0.2790$0.8135
Ex-dividend date08/20/202606/22/2026

Bottom lineChoose QDTE if you want to maximize current income — roughly 50.11%, 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: QDTE's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while QQQ keeps full price exposure.

QDTE vs QQQ: 0DTE overwrite or the Nasdaq-100?

QQQ is the index. QDTE sells same-day Nasdaq-100 calls for weekly cash. Overlay versus full participation is the decision.

QDTEQQQ
What you ownNasdaq-100 plus 0DTE covered callsNasdaq-100 Index
Expense ratio0.96%0.18%
Distribution yield50.11%0.46%

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. QDTE 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.

Roundhill Investments
ETFs55
Total AUM$38.3B

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

Roundhill Investments is known for offering innovative, specialized ETFs that often feature weekly dividend distributions and exposure to trending themes and individual mega-cap stocks. Their lineup spans income-focused strategies, leveraged products, thematic investments in areas like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, and weekly-pay funds that appeal to investors seeking frequent distributions. The issuer has built a distinctive niche with products targeting both traditional income seekers and those interested in emerging sectors, offering a diverse range of tickers that go well beyond conventional dividend vehicles.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QDTE.

See all Roundhill Investments 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

QDTE (Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

QDTE offers the higher yield at 50.11% vs 0.46% 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 0.96%.

They track different benchmarks: QDTE is linked to Nasdaq-100 while QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($485B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose QDTE

Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF

  • Want to maximize current income — QDTE distributes roughly 50.11% from selling options premium, vs 0.46% 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 0.96% for QDTE.

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, QDTE would generate roughly $417.58/month, while QQQ would produce $3.83/month, at current distribution rates.

QDTE yield50.11%
QQQ yield0.46%
Monthly diff on $10K$413.75

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QDTE would cost approximately $960 in fees vs $180 for QQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $780.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QDTE ER0.96%
QQQ ER0.18%

Strategy & risk

QDTE tracks Nasdaq-100 with a covered call approach, while QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.1903 for QDTE and 1.26 for QQQ, making QDTE the less volatile of the two by this measure.

QDTE beta1.1903
QQQ beta1.26

Fund details

QDTE is managed by Roundhill Investments (launched 03/07/2024) with $958M in assets. QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $485B in assets.

QDTE AUM$958M
QQQ AUM$485B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between QDTE and QQQ?

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks the Nasdaq-100 once. QDTE (Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF) writes same-day covered calls on that index for weekly cash — 50.11%. Cost is 0.96% versus 0.18%. Distributions are 50.11% and 0.46% as of August 2026. Overlay cash versus the full index is the decision.

What is the current distribution yield for QDTE and QQQ?

QDTE currently distributes 50.11% and QQQ 0.46%, 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 QDTE or QQQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. QDTE 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.

Can I hold both QDTE 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 QDTE 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, QDTE scores 76, so QQQ'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, QDTE or QQQ?

QDTE has an expense ratio of 0.96% 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 QDTE vs QQQ generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in QDTE would generate roughly $417.58 per month ($5,011.00 annually). The same in QQQ would produce about $3.83 per month ($46.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QDTE or QQQ?

QDTE has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.11% total return against 26.68%. Measured from Mar 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQ has compounded at 21.80% a year versus 20.36% for QDTE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

QDTE vs QQQ — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.

Overview

QDTE and QQQ both track the Nasdaq-100 Index but employ radically different strategies. QQQ is a conventional large-cap growth ETF that holds the 100 stocks directly and distributes quarterly capital appreciation. QDTE holds Nasdaq-100 exposure but wraps it in a weekly zero-days-to-expiration covered call strategy designed to harvest option premium, distributing 36.26% annually through weekly payouts. The two compete for investors seeking Nasdaq-100 exposure but diverge sharply on income generation and volatility management.

How they differ

The first and largest distinction is strategy: QQQ is a buy-and-hold index tracker, while QDTE writes 0DTE call options weekly against its Nasdaq-100 positions to generate income. This means QDTE caps upside—its calls are exercised at-the-money or slightly out-of-the-money each week—while QQQ's returns are uncapped. Second, QDTE distributes 36.26% annually in weekly payouts; QQQ yields only 0.45% paid quarterly. The third difference is cost and risk profile: QDTE charges 0.95% in fees versus QQQ's 0.18%, and QDTE's beta of 1.1903 is notably lower than QQQ's 1.26, reflecting the dampening effect of short calls. QDTE is also far smaller ($966M in AUM versus QQQ's $479B), making it a newer and less liquid vehicle. QQQ's 25-year history contrasts with QDTE's inception in March 2024.

Who each is best for

QDTE: Fits investors who prioritize steady weekly cash flow and accept capped upside in exchange for lower volatility and premium income, especially those in or near retirement.

QQQ: Designed for investors seeking full participation in Nasdaq-100 price appreciation with minimal fees and tax-efficient compounding over long holding periods, or those who view dividend income as secondary to growth.

Key risks to know

  • 0DTE call exercise and opportunity cost. QDTE's weekly call sales cap gains when the Nasdaq-100 rallies sharply. In periods of sustained market strength, the capped returns could lag QQQ's uncapped appreciation materially, eroding the income advantage over time.
  • NAV erosion at a 36%+ distribution yield. QDTE's 36.26% annualized distribution rate is high enough that a significant portion is likely being paid from return of capital or principal drawdown rather than underlying option premium alone. This suggests NAV decay over multi-year holding periods if underlying index performance does not accelerate.
  • Concentration in large-cap technology. Both funds track the Nasdaq-100, which is heavily weighted toward mega-cap tech and growth names. A prolonged tech underperformance would hurt both, though QDTE's calls would prevent recovery if the index rebounds.
  • Rollover execution risk on 0DTE options. Weekly option rolls carry real execution costs, slippage, and timing risk. In gap-up opens or volatile periods, call sales may occur at less favorable strikes, reducing premium capture.
  • Liquidity and AUM scale. QDTE's $966M AUM is modest and its March 2024 inception means limited operational track record. QQQ's $479B makes it a far more established and liquid vehicle with deeper secondary trading.

Bottom line

If you want full upside exposure to Nasdaq-100 growth and prefer tax-deferred compounding with minimal fees, QQQ's simplicity and 25-year track record stand out. If you prioritize weekly cash flow and accept that your gains will be capped by call exercise, QDTE offers higher distribution yield at the cost of limited upside and higher fees. Past performance does not predict future results; the income advantage QDTE displays today depends on sustained elevated option premiums and does not guarantee principal preservation.

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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