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ETF Comparison

QDTE vs RDTE: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF and Roundhill RDTE Russell 2000 0DTE Covered Call Strategy covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 13, 2026

Best for

  • QDTEInvestors who are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout.
  • RDTEInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 38.76%, generated by selling options premium.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricQDTERDTE
Full nameRoundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETFRoundhill RDTE Russell 2000 0DTE Covered Call Strategy
IssuerRoundhill InvestmentsRoundhill Investments
Last Close$29.80 as of August 13, 2026$29.09 as of August 13, 2026
Distribution yield36.25%38.76%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7767
Expense ratio0.95%0.97%
AUM$966M$185M
Distribution frequencyWeeklyWeekly
Underlying indexNASDAQ 100Russell 2000
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.Seeks weekly income by investing at least 80% of net assets in instruments that provide exposure to the Russell 2000 Index and writing zero-days-to-expiration (0DTE) call options against that exposure.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date03/07/202409/10/2024
Beta1.19031.1785
Last dividend$0.2077$0.2168
Ex-dividend date08/13/202608/13/2026

Bottom lineChoose QDTE if you are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout. Choose RDTE if you want to maximize current income — roughly 38.76%, generated by selling options premium.

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 and RDTE 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.

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$34.7B

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 and RDTE.

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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

QDTE has lagged RDTE over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.52% total return against 31.61%. Measured from Sep 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QDTE has compounded at 24.53% a year versus 21.19% for RDTE. 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 Sep 2024Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QDTE15.55%26.52%24.53%18.1%1.051.47-10.2%
RDTE21.58%31.61%21.19%17.0%1.351.99-9.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 12, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Sep 2024” measures every fund from September 10, 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.

Quick verdict

QDTE (Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF) and RDTE (Roundhill RDTE Russell 2000 0DTE Covered Call Strategy) are both weekly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

RDTE offers the higher yield at 38.76% vs 36.25% for QDTE. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

QDTE is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.95% compared to 0.97%.

They track different benchmarks: QDTE is linked to NASDAQ 100 while RDTE tracks Russell 2000, which means their performance drivers differ.

QDTE is the larger fund by assets ($966M), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose QDTE

Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF

  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.95% expense ratio vs 0.97% for RDTE.

Choose RDTE

Roundhill RDTE Russell 2000 0DTE Covered Call Strategy

  • Want to maximize current income — RDTE distributes roughly 38.76% from selling options premium, vs 36.25% for QDTE.
  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.

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 $302.08/month, while RDTE would produce $323.00/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay weekly distributions.

QDTE yield36.25%
RDTE yield38.76%
Monthly diff on $10K$20.92

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QDTE would cost approximately $950 in fees vs $970 for RDTE (simplified, not compounded). The $20.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QDTE ER0.95%
RDTE ER0.97%

Strategy & risk

QDTE tracks NASDAQ 100 with a covered call approach, while RDTE tracks Russell 2000 with a covered call approach. Beta is 1.1903 for QDTE and 1.1785 for RDTE, indicating RDTE is less volatile relative to the market.

QDTE beta1.1903
RDTE beta1.1785

Fund details

QDTE is managed by Roundhill Investments (launched 03/07/2024) with $966M in assets. RDTE is managed by Roundhill Investments (launched 09/10/2024) with $185M in assets.

QDTE AUM$966M
RDTE AUM$185M
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for QDTE and RDTE?

QDTE currently distributes 36.25% and RDTE 38.76%, 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 RDTE better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. RDTE 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 QDTE and RDTE?

QDTE (Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF) tracks NASDAQ 100 with a covered call approach, while RDTE (Roundhill RDTE Russell 2000 0DTE Covered Call Strategy) tracks Russell 2000 with a covered call approach. They are issued by Roundhill Investments and Roundhill Investments respectively.

Can I hold both QDTE and RDTE?

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 RDTE safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — QDTE scores 77, RDTE scores 67, so QDTE'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 RDTE?

QDTE has an expense ratio of 0.95% while RDTE charges 0.97%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in QDTE vs RDTE generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in QDTE would generate roughly $302.08 per month ($3,625.00 annually). The same in RDTE would produce about $323.00 per month ($3,876.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QDTE or RDTE?

QDTE has lagged RDTE over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.52% total return against 31.61%. Measured from Sep 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QDTE has compounded at 24.53% a year versus 21.19% for RDTE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

QDTE vs RDTE — at a glance

Generated August 8, 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 RDTE are both weekly-income ETFs that deploy 0DTE (zero-days-to-expiration) covered call strategies, but they track different equity indexes. QDTE writes calls against Nasdaq-100 exposure, targeting large-cap tech and growth stocks, while RDTE uses Russell 2000 exposure to capture small-cap volatility. Both funds aim to harvest option premium by selling calls that expire the same day, making their high distribution rates a function of frequent option sales rather than underlying dividend yield.

How they differ

The clearest difference is their underlying index: QDTE focuses on Nasdaq-100 tech and mega-cap growth names, whereas RDTE targets small-cap equities via the Russell 2000. This shapes their volatility profiles and the characteristics of the call premium they capture. RDTE offers a marginally higher distribution rate at 24.27% versus QDTE's 23.99%, and both charge similar expense ratios (0.97% for RDTE, 0.95% for QDTE). QDTE has substantially larger assets under management at $963M compared to RDTE's $181M, reflecting longer time in market (QDTE launched in March 2024, RDTE in September 2024). Their betas are nearly identical, around 1.18–1.19, suggesting comparable leverage to broad market moves.

Who each is best for

QDTE: Fits investors seeking weekly income from large-cap, tech-weighted equity exposure who are comfortable with the call-writing mechanics and can tolerate the concentration in Nasdaq-heavy sectors.

RDTE: Fits investors who prefer small-cap equity exposure and want to generate weekly income through options premiums, accepting the higher idiosyncratic volatility typical of Russell 2000 constituents.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at extreme distribution yields. Both funds distribute at rates far exceeding typical equity dividend yields. A 24% annual distribution rate implies the fund is returning principal alongside (or instead of) underlying earnings, creating pressure on NAV over time unless underlying price appreciation or option premium capture offset the drain.
  • 0DTE option assignment and timing risk. Writing calls that expire the same day concentrates execution risk into narrow windows. Gap openings, holiday gaps, or unexpected earnings announcements on the underlying can force assignment or losses that aren't smoothed over longer option cycles.
  • Small-cap liquidity in RDTE. Russell 2000 stocks are less liquid than Nasdaq-100 names. If the fund needs to rebalance or raise cash during market stress, bid-ask spreads on small-cap holdings could widen materially, increasing transaction costs and drag.
  • Call-writing caps upside. Both funds systematically sell call options, which limits stock appreciation above the strike price. In a sustained bull market, this "upside cap" could meaningfully lag a buy-and-hold index approach.
  • Concentration overlap risk. QDTE's Nasdaq-100 tilt means its premium-capture strategy is concentrated in tech and growth; RDTE's small-cap focus creates its own concentration. Verify that their holdings don't overlap with other major positions in your portfolio if you're concerned about sector or size-box concentration.

Bottom line

QDTE and RDTE both use 0DTE calls to generate outsized weekly income, but target different market segments—large-cap tech versus small-cap value. If you want exposure to mega-cap growth with more established market liquidity, QDTE's larger fund size and March inception offer a longer track record; if you're drawn to small-cap optionality and can tolerate higher idiosyncratic volatility, RDTE delivers similar weekly mechanics at a marginally higher rate. Both carry significant NAV erosion risk at these distribution levels, so neither should be treated as a perpetual income machine—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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