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ETF Comparison

QQQI vs QYLD: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF and Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 21, 2026

NEOS
ETFs19
Total AUM$30.0B

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
Global X
ETFs120
Total AUM$93.2B

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.

See all Global X ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

QQQIQYLD
Full nameNEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETFGlobal X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF
IssuerNEOSGlobal X
Last Close$54.27 as of July 21, 2026$17.66 as of July 21, 2026
Distribution yield14.53%12.06%
Distribution Safety Score™ 8487
Expense ratio0.68%0.61%
AUM$13.3B$8.08B
Distribution frequencyMonthlyMonthly
Underlying indexNASDAQ 100NASDAQ 100
ObjectiveSeeks to generate high monthly income in a tax efficient manner while targeting equity appreciation.Covered Call
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date01/29/202412/11/2013
Beta1.05530.49
Last dividend$0.6570$0.1775
Ex-dividend date06/16/202607/20/2026

Bottom lineChoose QQQI if you want to maximize current income — roughly 14.53%, generated by selling options premium. Choose QYLD if you are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout.

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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 QYLD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 17.79% total return against 18.39%. Measured from Jan 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQI has compounded at 19.01% a year versus 12.64% for QYLD. QYLD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 10.9% against 15.7% for QQQI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1YSince Jan 2024Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QQQI8.33%17.79%19.01%15.7%0.771.06-9.6%
QYLD6.10%18.39%12.64%10.9%1.151.68-5.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 20, 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 QYLD (Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF) are both monthly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

QQQI offers the higher yield at 14.53% vs 12.06% for QYLD. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

QYLD is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.61% compared to 0.68%.

QQQI is the larger fund by assets ($13.3B), 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 14.53% from selling options premium, vs 12.06% for QYLD.
  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.

Choose QYLD

Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF

  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.61% expense ratio vs 0.68% for QQQI.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.5 vs 1.1 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 $121.08/month, while QYLD would produce $100.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay monthly distributions.

QQQI yield14.53%
QYLD yield12.06%
Monthly diff on $10K$20.58

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQI would cost approximately $680 in fees vs $610 for QYLD (simplified, not compounded). The $70.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QQQI ER0.68%
QYLD ER0.61%

Strategy & risk

Both QQQI and QYLD wrap NASDAQ 100 with options-based income overlays (options and covered call). The practical differences are yield target, fee structure, and issuer track record — not the underlying mechanic. Beta is 1.0553 for QQQI and 0.49 for QYLD, indicating QYLD is less volatile relative to the market.

QQQI beta1.0553
QYLD beta0.49

Fund details

QQQI is managed by NEOS (launched 01/29/2024) with $13.3B in assets. QYLD is managed by Global X (launched 12/11/2013) with $8.08B in assets.

QQQI AUM$13.3B
QYLD AUM$8.08B
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Frequently asked questions

Is QQQI or QYLD 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 QYLD?

Both QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) and QYLD (Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF) track NASDAQ 100 with options-based income strategies — the labels "options" and "covered call" describe closely related mechanics (covered calls are a specific type of options strategy). The real differences show up in yield target (14.53% vs 12.06%), expense ratio (0.68% vs 0.61%), and issuer (NEOS vs Global X).

Can I hold both QQQI and QYLD?

You can, but expect significant overlap. Both funds use options-based income strategies on NASDAQ 100, so holding them together gives you two wrappers around effectively the same exposure — not true diversification. Weigh issuer, fee, and yield differences rather than treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, QQQI or QYLD?

QQQI has an expense ratio of 0.68% while QYLD charges 0.61%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in QQQI would generate roughly $121.08 per month ($1,453.00 annually). The same in QYLD would produce about $100.50 per month ($1,206.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QQQI or QYLD?

QQQI has lagged QYLD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 17.79% total return against 18.39%. Measured from Jan 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQI has compounded at 19.01% a year versus 12.64% for QYLD. QYLD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 10.9% against 15.7% 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 QYLD — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

QQQI and QYLD are both monthly-income ETFs built on the Nasdaq-100, but they use different options strategies to generate yield. QQQI employs a synthetic covered call overlay designed for tax efficiency and launched in early 2024; QYLD has run a straightforward covered call strategy since 2013. The key distinction is not just age and track record—it's that QQQI targets a higher distribution rate (13.99% vs. 12.05%) while maintaining closer-to-market beta exposure (1.0553 vs. 0.49).

How they differ

QQQI's synthetic overlay strategy differs fundamentally from QYLD's traditional covered call approach. QQQI is newer and explicitly designed around tax efficiency, while QYLD's longer history means a decade of real-world realized performance in covered-call income generation. The distribution yield gap is material: QQQI currently distributes 13.99% annually against QYLD's 12.05%, a 194 basis-point spread that reflects either greater call premium capture or more aggressive income harvesting.

Beta tells a critical story about price sensitivity. QQQI's beta of 1.0553 means it moves nearly with the Nasdaq-100; QYLD's 0.49 beta indicates it captures only about half the index's upside and downside. That's not accident—covered calls dampen equity returns by design, but QYLD's lower beta suggests tighter call strikes or a longer holding period. QQQI's nearly-market-beta positioning implies either wider call strikes or a different overlay construction. The expense ratio difference is minor (0.68% vs. 0.61%), but QQQI's $12.5B AUM dwarfs QYLD's $8.22B despite being a fraction of the age, signaling strong recent investor appetite for its tax-efficiency pitch.

Who each is best for

QQQI: Fits investors seeking maximal current income from tech-heavy exposure while prioritizing tax efficiency in a non-sheltered account, and who are comfortable accepting beta close to the underlying index in exchange for a higher distribution yield.

QYLD: Designed for investors who want capped upside from Nasdaq-100 exposure but view the reduced volatility (half the index's beta) as an acceptable tradeoff for a steady, lower-volatility income stream and a track record spanning multiple market cycles.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at sustained high yields. QQQI's 13.99% distribution rate leaves limited room for underlying price appreciation before distributions begin returning capital; if Nasdaq-100 total returns fall short of that yield, NAV will decline over time.
  • Covered call principal tradeoff. Both funds cap upside by selling calls. QYLD's lower beta suggests its strikes are tighter or its calls run longer; QQQI's near-market beta implies wider or shorter-dated calls. Rapid Nasdaq-100 rallies will outpace both funds' price appreciation.
  • QQQI's limited track record. Inception in January 2024 means QQQI has no observed performance through a market downturn, correction, or extended sideways period. Its tax-efficiency claims and synthetic overlay behavior remain untested in stress.
  • Interest-rate sensitivity in the options market. Both funds' yields depend partly on implied volatility and call premiums. A sustained decline in volatility or a sharp drop in put-call spreads would compress future distributions.

Bottom line

If you prioritize maximum current income and tax efficiency and are willing to accept nearly-market-beta exposure, QQQI's higher yield and newer structural approach merit attention—though its youth means tax claims remain unproven. If you value a lower-volatility equity stream and a decade-plus of real performance data, QYLD's half-market beta and proven covered-call execution offer stability at a modest yield cost. Past performance, particularly QYLD's longer track record, does not guarantee future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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