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.
QQQ has outpaced QYLD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.84% total return against 23.22%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 21.10% a year, against 10.03% for QYLD. QYLD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.4% against 20.4% for QQQ. 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.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 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 Dec 2013” measures every fund from December 12, 2013 — 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 trailing 3 years. 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 trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Distribution rate and SEC yield
Metric
QQQ
QYLD
Forward distribution rate
0.40%
11.38%
Trailing 12-month yield
0.41%
11.44%
30-day SEC yield
—
0.02%
Total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is the Total returns section above. A 30-day SEC yield can sit far from the headline distribution rate; both numbers are the fund's own published fields.
Side-by-side snapshot
Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric;
each column is one fund.
Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.
Seeks monthly income by tracking the Cboe Nasdaq-100 BuyWrite Index, holding the Nasdaq-100 stocks and writing a succession of one-month at-the-money covered call options on the index.
Bottom lineChoose QQQ if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside. Choose QYLD if you want to maximize current income — roughly 11.38%, generated by selling options premium. There's no free lunch: QYLD's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while QQQ keeps full price exposure.
QQQ vs QYLD: the index or a full overwrite?
Same Nasdaq-100 starting point. QYLD sells the upside for monthly cash. QQQ keeps the whole move.
QQQ
QYLD
What you own
Nasdaq-100 Index
Nasdaq-100 plus a covered-call overwrite
Expense ratio
0.18%
0.60%
Distribution rate
0.40%
11.38%
Upside in a rally
Full participation
Mostly sold
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. QYLD 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.
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.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Global X is known for developing thematic and alternative investment ETFs with a strong emphasis on income-generating strategies. Their 37-fund lineup spans diverse categories including covered call funds, SuperDividend income products, digital assets, commodities, and sector-specific investments, alongside traditional bond and risk-managed income options. Notable tickers like DIV, MLPA, and BCCC reflect their specialization in high-yield and alternative income strategies, positioning them as a provider focused on investors seeking yield-oriented and thematically-driven exposure.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QYLD.
QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) and QYLD (Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
QYLD offers the higher yield at 11.38% vs 0.40% 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 0.60%.
They have different reference exposures: QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index while QYLD is linked to Cboe Nasdaq-100 BuyWrite V2 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($501B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Who should choose each?
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 0.60% for QYLD.
Choose QYLD
Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF
Want to maximize current income — QYLD distributes roughly 11.38% from selling options premium, vs 0.40% for QQQ.
Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.5 vs 1.3 for QQQ.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track QQQ & QYLD for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment, QQQ would generate roughly $10.00 cash per distribution, while QYLD would produce $94.83 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.
QQQ yield0.40%
QYLD yield11.38%
Cash diff on $10K$84.83
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQ would cost approximately $180 in fees vs $600 for QYLD (simplified, not compounded). The $420.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
QQQ ER0.18%
QYLD ER0.60%
Strategy & risk
QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach, while QYLD tracks Cboe Nasdaq-100 BuyWrite V2 Index with a covered call approach. Beta is 1.26 for QQQ and 0.49 for QYLD, making QYLD the less volatile of the two by this measure.
QQQ beta1.26
QYLD beta0.49
Fund details
QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $501B in assets. QYLD is managed by Global X (launched 12/11/2013) with $8.51B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between QYLD and QQQ?
QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index and keeps the whole move. QYLD (Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF) writes covered calls on the same index for monthly cash. That is why QYLD distributes 11.38% against 0.40% and costs 0.60% against 0.18%. The larger yield is upside sold, not a safer Nasdaq. Figures as of October 2026.
What is the current distribution rate for QQQ and QYLD?
QQQ currently distributes 0.40% and QYLD 11.38%, 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 QQQ or QYLD better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. QYLD 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 QQQ and QYLD?
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 QQQ or QYLD 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, QYLD scores 83, so QQQ's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. QYLD has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.49 vs 1.26 for QQQ). 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, QQQ or QYLD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while QYLD charges 0.60%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in QQQ vs QYLD generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in QQQ would generate roughly $10.00 cash per distribution ($40.00 annually). The same in QYLD would produce about $94.83 cash per distribution ($1,138.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, QQQ or QYLD?
QQQ has outpaced QYLD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.84% total return against 23.22%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 21.10% a year, against 10.03% for QYLD. QYLD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.4% against 20.4% for QQQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
QQQ is a pure-play index ETF that tracks the Nasdaq-100, giving you direct exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks with minimal cost and full upside capture. QYLD holds the same underlying stocks but continuously sells at-the-money covered call options against them to generate monthly income, trading away most of the stock's price appreciation for a 11.38% annualized yield. The two are built from the same asset base but with fundamentally different return profiles: QQQ aims for growth, QYLD for income.
How they differ
The core distinction is strategy: QQQ passively holds Nasdaq-100 stocks and aims to match index returns, while QYLD writes covered calls on those same holdings to fund a much higher payout. That structural difference shows up in yield—11.38% for QYLD versus 0.40% for QQQ—and it shows up dramatically in beta. QQQ has a 1.26 beta, meaning it amplifies market moves; QYLD reports a 0.49 beta, muting volatility by capping upside.
Who each is best for
QQQ: Investors seeking growth-oriented, broad exposure to large-cap U.S. technology and innovation stocks, comfortable accepting volatility and reinvesting limited distributions for long-term capital appreciation.
QYLD: Investors prioritizing steady monthly cash flow from a Nasdaq-100 exposure base, willing to accept capped upside and lower price appreciation in exchange for high current income.
Key risks to know
Covered call cap on gains.QYLD's monthly call writing locks in an effective price ceiling, meaning if Nasdaq-100 stocks surge, the fund captures only the gains up to the strike price and forgoes the rest. This is not a timing risk—it's structural. Over a strong market cycle, this caps-and-keeps pattern could underperform QQQ significantly.
NAV erosion from distribution sustainability.QYLD's 11.38% yield is well above typical stock total returns or option premium generation alone, which raises questions about whether distributions rely partly on return of capital or NAV erosion over time. The fund's $18.63 price should be monitored relative to NAV to assess the cost of that payout.
Options assignment and tail-risk muting. The 0.49 beta suggests call assignment during sharp rallies dampens the fund's upside, but it also limits downside capture—QYLD may rise less when the index falls sharply, creating an asymmetric return profile that differs fundamentally from holding stocks alone.
Concentration in large-cap tech. Both funds track the Nasdaq-100, which skews toward mega-cap technology and growth stocks. Economic slowdown, regulatory risk, or a shift in investor appetite away from growth could pressure both, though QYLD's hedged structure might cushion the decline. The decision hinges on whether you value capital appreciation or current income more—and remembering that the higher the yield, the greater the tradeoff embedded in the structure. 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.
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