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ETF Comparison

QQQI vs QQQM: Monthly Income or Maximum Growth?

A head-to-head comparison of the NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF and the Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF covering distributions, total return, cost, and the trade-off between them.

Data updated August 14, 2026

Best for

  • QQQIInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 13.66%, generated by selling options premium.
  • QQQMInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

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.
MetricQQQIQQQM
Full nameNEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETFInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETF
IssuerNEOSInvesco
Last Close$55.78 as of August 14, 2026$301.41 as of August 14, 2026
Distribution yield13.66%0.47%
Distribution Safety Score™ 8496
Expense ratio0.68%0.15%
AUM$13.9B$104B
Distribution frequencyMonthlyQuarterly
Underlying indexNASDAQ 100NASDAQ-100 Index
ObjectiveSeeks to generate high monthly income in a tax efficient manner while targeting equity appreciation.Track the NASDAQ-100 Index with a lower expense ratio alternative to QQQ.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date01/29/202410/13/2020
Beta1.05531.18
Last dividend$0.6350$0.3520
Ex-dividend date07/22/202606/22/2026

Bottom lineChoose QQQI if you want to maximize current income — roughly 13.66%, generated by selling options premium. Choose QQQM if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside. There's no free lunch: QQQI's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while QQQM keeps full price exposure.

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. QQQI 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.

NEOS
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.

See all NEOS ETFs
Invesco
ETFs247
Total AUM$983B

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 QQQM.

See all Invesco ETFs

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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

QQQI has lagged QQQM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.29% total return against 26.87%. Measured from Jan 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQM has compounded at 24.62% a year versus 20.32% 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.
SymbolYTD1YSince Jan 2024Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QQQI12.64%19.29%20.32%16.4%0.801.13-9.6%
QQQM19.70%26.87%24.62%19.4%0.991.43-12.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 13, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jan 2024” measures every fund from January 30, 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

QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) and QQQM (Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

QQQI offers the higher yield at 13.66% vs 0.47% for QQQM. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

QQQM is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.15% compared to 0.68%.

They track different benchmarks: QQQI is linked to NASDAQ 100 while QQQM tracks NASDAQ-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQM is the larger fund by assets ($104B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose QQQI

NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF

  • Want to maximize current income — QQQI distributes roughly 13.66% from selling options premium, vs 0.47% for QQQM.
  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.

Choose QQQM

Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF

  • Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.15% expense ratio vs 0.68% for QQQI.

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, QQQI would generate roughly $113.83/month, while QQQM would produce $3.92/month, at current distribution rates.

QQQI yield13.66%
QQQM yield0.47%
Monthly diff on $10K$109.92

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQI would cost approximately $680 in fees vs $150 for QQQM (simplified, not compounded). The $530.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QQQI ER0.68%
QQQM ER0.15%

Strategy & risk

QQQI tracks NASDAQ 100 with an options approach, while QQQM tracks NASDAQ-100 Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.0553 for QQQI and 1.18 for QQQM, indicating QQQI is less volatile relative to the market.

QQQI beta1.0553
QQQM beta1.18

Fund details

QQQI is managed by NEOS (launched 01/29/2024) with $13.9B in assets. QQQM is managed by Invesco (launched 10/13/2020) with $104B in assets.

QQQI AUM$13.9B
QQQM AUM$104B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for QQQI and QQQM?

QQQI currently distributes 13.66% and QQQM 0.47%, 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 QQQI or QQQM better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. QQQI 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 QQQI and QQQM?

QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) tracks NASDAQ 100 with an options approach, while QQQM (Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF) tracks NASDAQ-100 Index with a growth approach. They are issued by NEOS and Invesco respectively.

Can I hold both QQQI and QQQM?

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 QQQI or QQQM safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — QQQM scores 96, QQQI scores 84, so QQQM'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, QQQI or QQQM?

QQQI has an expense ratio of 0.68% while QQQM charges 0.15%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in QQQI would generate roughly $113.83 per month ($1,366.00 annually). The same in QQQM would produce about $3.92 per month ($47.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QQQI or QQQM?

QQQI has lagged QQQM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.29% total return against 26.87%. Measured from Jan 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQM has compounded at 24.62% a year versus 20.32% for QQQI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

QQQI vs QQQM — 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

QQQI and QQQM are both ETFs tracking the Nasdaq-100 Index, but they take fundamentally different approaches to generating returns. QQQM is a straightforward index tracker focused on capital appreciation with minimal distributions. QQQI, by contrast, is a derivative-overlay strategy that uses options to generate a 13.79% distribution rate while targeting the same underlying index.

How they differ

The biggest difference is strategy: QQQM is a vanilla index fund, while QQQI layers options strategies on top of Nasdaq-100 holdings to produce high monthly income. QQQM distributes 0.47% annually and charges 0.15% in fees; QQQI distributes 13.79% monthly and costs 0.68% in expenses. QQQI has just $13.9B in assets and launched in January 2024, while QQQM is over three years old with $97.1B under management. The beta figures suggest QQQI amplifies market moves slightly more (1.0553 vs. 1.18), though both track the same index—a sign that QQQI's options overlay adds its own volatility profile.

Who each is best for

QQQI: Fits income-focused investors seeking monthly cash flow from Nasdaq-100 exposure and willing to accept the complexity and potential NAV volatility that come with options-based income generation.

QQQM: Fits growth-oriented investors who want low-cost, tax-efficient exposure to large-cap tech and growth stocks without the complications of synthetic income strategies or frequent distributions.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at extreme distribution yields. QQQI's 13.79% annualized payout is substantially higher than the underlying Nasdaq-100 dividend yield. Closing that gap typically requires selling down principal or relying on return-of-capital distributions, which erodes NAV over time—a particular risk in flat or declining markets.
  • Options overlay volatility and decay. QQQI's strategy depends on writing options against the index to generate premium income. This exposes the fund to gamma and theta risk; sharp rallies can lock in losses on short calls, while declining markets may force the fund to hold shares below purchase price. The overlay's success depends on managing this trade-off, which is not guaranteed.
  • Newness and limited track record. QQQI launched just over one year ago. Its performance across a full market cycle—especially a drawdown—remains untested. Multi-year behavioral data during stressed conditions is not yet available.
  • Concentration risk in both. Both ETFs track the Nasdaq-100, which has significant exposure to a small number of mega-cap technology stocks. Overlap in holdings is near-complete, so diversification between them offers no additional protection against sector or single-stock risk.

Bottom line

If you prioritize steady capital appreciation with tax efficiency and low fees, QQQM's index-tracking approach delivers straightforward exposure. If you need monthly income and can tolerate options-derived volatility and the risk of NAV compression, QQQI's enhanced yield addresses a different income objective—though its ability to sustain distributions through market cycles remains unproven. 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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