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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.

Updated October 16, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • QDTEInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 24.15%, 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

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

QDTE has outpaced QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.92% total return against 18.86%. Measured from Mar 2024 — the start of shared available history — QQQ has compounded at 20.21% a year versus 18.77% 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.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulativeSince Mar 2024Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QDTE13.10%18.92%18.77%18.3%0.721.01-10.2%
QQQ15.94%18.86%20.21%19.8%0.660.96-12.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Mar 2024” measures every fund from March 7, 2024 — 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 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.

Distribution rate and return of capital

MetricQDTEQQQ
Forward distribution rate24.15%0.42%
Trailing 12-month yield44.94%0.44%
Return of capital100.00%—

Total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is the Total returns section above. Return of capital is the share of a recent distribution that was not income.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricQDTEQQQ
Full nameRoundhill Nasdaq-100® 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETFInvesco QQQ Trust
IssuerRoundhill InvestmentsInvesco
Last Close$27.82 as of October 16, 2026$709.80 as of October 16, 2026
Distribution rate24.15%0.42%
Trailing 12-month yield44.94%0.44%
Distribution Safety Score™ 5595
Safety-Adjusted Yield 13.28%0.40%
Expense ratio0.96%0.18%
AUM$901M$506B
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$0.129192 payable today$0.75143
Ex-dividend date10/15/202609/21/2026

Bottom lineChoose QDTE if you want to maximize current income — roughly 24.15%, 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 rate24.15%0.42%

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

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.

Roundhill Investments
ETFs57
Total AUM$31.4B

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 ETFs from Roundhill Investments
Invesco
ETFs246
Total AUM$1.02T

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 ETFs from Invesco

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Quick verdict

QDTE (Roundhill Nasdaq-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 24.15% vs 0.42% 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 have different reference exposures: QDTE is linked to Nasdaq-100 while QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($506B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose QDTE

Roundhill Nasdaq-100® 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF

  • Want to maximize current income — QDTE distributes roughly 24.15% from selling options premium, vs 0.42% 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 $46.44 cash per distribution, while QQQ would produce $10.50 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.

QDTE yield24.15%
QQQ yield0.42%
Cash diff on $10K$35.94

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 $901M in assets. QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $506B in assets.

QDTE AUM$901M
QQQ AUM$506B
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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 Nasdaq-100® 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF) writes same-day covered calls on that index for weekly cash — 24.15%. Cost is 0.96% versus 0.18%. Distributions are 24.15% and 0.42% as of October 2026. Overlay cash versus the full index is the decision.

What is the current distribution rate for QDTE and QQQ?

QDTE currently distributes 24.15% and QQQ 0.42%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate 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 95, QDTE scores 55, 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 $46.44 cash per distribution ($2,415.00 annually). The same in QQQ would produce about $10.50 cash per distribution ($42.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QDTE or QQQ?

QDTE has outpaced QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.92% total return against 18.86%. Measured from Mar 2024 — the start of shared available history — QQQ has compounded at 20.21% a year versus 18.77% 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 October 17, 2026.

QQQ is a straightforward index tracker seeking capital appreciation with minimal distributions. QDTE wraps the same underlying exposure in a weekly covered-call strategy, selling 0DTE (zero-days-to-expiration) calls to generate high current income at the cost of capped upside.

How they differ

The core difference is strategy: QQQ passively replicates the Nasdaq-100, while QDTE actively writes short-dated call options against that same index exposure to harvest premium. This distinction drives everything else. QDTE's expense ratio of 0.96% is roughly 0.78% higher than QQQ's 0.18%, reflecting the overhead of running an options strategy. QQQ, with $506B in assets, operates at a vastly larger scale than QDTE's $901M; QQQ launched in 03/10/1999 while QDTE is a newer strategy, having begun in 03/07/2024.

Who each is best for

  • QDTE: Fits investors focused on extracting weekly cash flow from Nasdaq-100 exposure who are comfortable capping capital appreciation and accept the complexity of options-based income and potential NAV volatility.
  • QQQ: Fits investors seeking long-term capital growth aligned with large-cap tech and growth equities, with no dependence on current distributions or tolerance for return-of-capital patterns.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at elevated distribution yields. QDTE's 24.15% payout rate is unsustainable from Nasdaq-100 total return alone; the gap between that yield and the underlying index's growth suggests reliance on return-of-capital distributions or principal erosion over time.
  • Capped upside from weekly call writing. QDTE surrenders gains above each week's call strike in exchange for premium. In a strongly rallying market, this drag versus QQQ's uncapped exposure compounds significantly.
  • Call-assignment and cash-drag timing risk. 0DTE calls may be assigned before market close, forcing rapid repositioning. Undeployed cash from rollovers or assignments can drag returns in volatile markets.
  • Beta and correlation differences. QDTE's beta of 1.1903 and QQQ's beta of 1.26 suggest different systematic risk profiles; QDTE's options overlay alters its relationship to broad market moves in ways simple beta does not capture.
  • Limited operating history for QDTE. As a strategy launched in 03/07/2024, QDTE has no track record through a full market cycle; the sustainability of its income target under sustained market stress is unproven.

Bottom line

If you prioritize capital growth and can live with minimal distributions, QQQ offers straightforward Nasdaq-100 exposure at a low cost and proven scale. If you prioritize near-term income and accept that capturing upside is a tradeoff, QDTE's weekly payout and options strategy may fit your cash-flow goals—though the sustainability of a 24.15% yield warrants careful monitoring. Past performance does not 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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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.