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.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Schwab is known for offering low-cost, broad-based ETFs that serve both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies. Their 33-fund lineup spans multiple asset classes including bonds, equities, international markets, digital assets, and factor-based strategies, with a notable emphasis on dividend-focused funds like SCHD alongside core index options. The issuer emphasizes accessibility for individual investors through competitive expense ratios and a diverse range of fund families designed to support various investment objectives.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHD.
Seeks to generate high monthly income in a tax efficient manner while targeting equity appreciation.
Seeks to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which measures the performance of high dividend yielding stocks issued by U.S. companies with a record of consistently paying dividends, selected for fundamental strength relative to their peers based on financial ratios.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
01/29/2024
10/20/2011
Beta
1.0553
0.58
Last dividend
$0.6570
$0.2525
Ex-dividend date
06/16/2026
06/24/2026
Bottom lineChoose QQQI if you want to maximize current income — roughly 14.08%, generated by selling options premium. Choose SCHD if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. There's no free lunch: QQQI's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while SCHD keeps full price exposure.
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
QQQI has outpaced SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.96% total return against 22.24%. Measured from Jan 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQI has compounded at 20.67% a year versus 13.73% for SCHD. SCHD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 11.0% against 15.5% for QQQI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 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 SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
QQQI offers the higher yield at 14.08% vs 3.14% for SCHD. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
SCHD is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.06% compared to 0.68%.
They track different benchmarks: QQQI is linked to NASDAQ 100 while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
SCHD is the larger fund by assets ($95.2B), 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 14.08% from selling options premium, vs 3.14% for SCHD.
Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
Choose SCHD
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.06% expense ratio vs 0.68% for QQQI.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.6 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 $117.33/month, while SCHD would produce $26.17/month, at current distribution rates.
QQQI yield14.08%
SCHD yield3.14%
Monthly diff on $10K$91.17
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQI would cost approximately $680 in fees vs $60 for SCHD (simplified, not compounded). The $620.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
QQQI ER0.68%
SCHD ER0.06%
Strategy & risk
QQQI tracks NASDAQ 100 with an options approach, while SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. Beta is 1.0553 for QQQI and 0.58 for SCHD, indicating SCHD is less volatile relative to the market.
QQQI beta1.0553
SCHD beta0.58
Fund details
QQQI is managed by NEOS (launched 01/29/2024) with $12.5B in assets. SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $95.2B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is QQQI or SCHD 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 SCHD?
QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) tracks NASDAQ 100 with an options approach, while SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index. They are issued by NEOS and Schwab respectively.
Can I hold both QQQI and SCHD?
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.
Which has lower fees, QQQI or SCHD?
QQQI has an expense ratio of 0.68% while SCHD charges 0.06%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in QQQI vs SCHD generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in QQQI would generate roughly $117.33 per month ($1,408.00 annually). The same in SCHD would produce about $26.17 per month ($314.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, QQQI or SCHD?
QQQI has outpaced SCHD over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.96% total return against 22.24%. Measured from Jan 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — QQQI has compounded at 20.67% a year versus 13.73% for SCHD. SCHD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 11.0% against 15.5% for QQQI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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