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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF and TappAlpha Innovation 100 Growth & Daily Income ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 4, 2026

ETFs19
Total AUM$24.2B

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.

ETFs4
Total AUM$560M

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

TappAlpha operates a focused ETF lineup of four funds organized around two main families: Growth & Daily Income and T² Lift Series. The company's fund offerings span growth-oriented strategies and daily income approaches, with ticker symbols including TDAQ, TDAX, TSPY, and TSYX that target investors seeking regular income generation or equity growth exposure. As a smaller, specialized ETF provider, TappAlpha positions itself in a niche segment of the ETF market focused on daily income strategies and differentiated growth approaches.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on TDAQ.

Side-by-side snapshot

QQQITDAQ
Full nameNEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETFTappAlpha Innovation 100 Growth & Daily Income ETF
IssuerNEOSTappAlpha
Last Close$55.36 as of July 4, 2026$27.37 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield14.24%17.32%
Distribution Safety Score8884
Expense ratio0.68%0.83%
AUM$12.5B$227M
Distribution frequencyMonthlyMonthly
Underlying indexNASDAQ 100Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)
ObjectiveSeeks to generate high monthly income in a tax efficient manner while targeting equity appreciation.The TappAlpha Innovation 100 Growth & Daily Income ETF (the "Fund") seeks current income while maintaining prospects for capital appreciation. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is to seek exposure to the performance of the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 ("QQQ"), subject to a limit on potential investment gains.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date01/29/202409/04/2025
Beta1.05531.287
Last dividend$0.6570$0.3950
Ex-dividend date01/21/202606/16/2026

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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

SymbolYTDSince Sep 2025Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QQQI10.50%17.21%16.1%0.921.28-9.6%
TDAQ14.41%24.44%18.9%1.171.63-11.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Sep 2025” measures every fund from September 4, 2025 — 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 shared window since Sep 2025. 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 shared window since Sep 2025) — 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 TDAQ (TappAlpha Innovation 100 Growth & Daily Income ETF) are both monthly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

TDAQ offers the higher yield at 17.32% vs 14.24% for QQQI. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

QQQI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.68% compared to 0.83%.

They track different benchmarks: QQQI is linked to NASDAQ 100 while TDAQ tracks Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQI is the larger fund by assets ($12.5B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, QQQI would generate roughly $118.67/month, while TDAQ would produce $144.33/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay monthly distributions.

QQQI yield14.24%
TDAQ yield17.32%
Monthly diff on $10K$25.67

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQI would cost approximately $680 in fees vs $830 for TDAQ (simplified, not compounded). The $150.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QQQI ER0.68%
TDAQ ER0.83%

Strategy & risk

Both QQQI and TDAQ wrap NASDAQ 100 with options-based income overlays (options and growth). The practical differences are yield target, fee structure, and issuer track record — not the underlying mechanic. Beta is 1.0553 for QQQI and 1.287 for TDAQ, indicating QQQI is less volatile relative to the market.

QQQI beta1.0553
TDAQ beta1.287

Fund details

QQQI is managed by NEOS (launched 01/29/2024) with $12.5B in assets. TDAQ is managed by TappAlpha (launched 09/04/2025) with $227M in assets.

QQQI AUM$12.5B
TDAQ AUM$227M

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Frequently asked questions

Is QQQI or TDAQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. TDAQ 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 TDAQ?

Both QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) and TDAQ (TappAlpha Innovation 100 Growth & Daily Income ETF) track NASDAQ 100 with options-based income strategies — the labels "options" and "growth" describe closely related mechanics (covered calls are a specific type of options strategy). The real differences show up in yield target (14.24% vs 17.32%), expense ratio (0.68% vs 0.83%), and issuer (NEOS vs TappAlpha).

Can I hold both QQQI and TDAQ?

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 TDAQ?

QQQI has an expense ratio of 0.68% while TDAQ charges 0.83%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in QQQI would generate roughly $118.67 per month ($1,424.00 annually). The same in TDAQ would produce about $144.33 per month ($1,732.00 annually).

More comparisons to explore

QQQI vs TDAQ — at a glance

Generated June 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

QQQI and TDAQ are both options-overlay ETFs built on Nasdaq-100 exposure, seeking to generate outsized monthly income while maintaining equity upside. QQQI holds the underlying Nasdaq-100 directly with a 14.25% distribution rate and $12.5B in assets, while TDAQ tracks the QQQ ETF (which itself tracks the Nasdaq-100) with a higher 17.30% yield and uses 0DTE (zero days-to-expiration) options for income. The key distinction is TDAQ's more aggressive short-call strategy versus QQQI's more moderate approach, reflected in TDAQ's higher yield, higher beta, and materially smaller asset base.

How they differ

TDAQ pursues a more aggressive income strategy using 0DTE options—selling calls that expire the same day—versus QQQI's longer-dated or mixed-tenor call sales. This explains TDAQ's 17.30% distribution rate against QQQI's 14.25%, and TDAQ's beta of 1.287 versus QQQI's 1.0553; the tighter hedging in QQQI dampens both volatility and upside capture.

TDAQ launched only in September 2025, compared to QQQI's January 2024 inception, so TDAQ has minimal operating history. QQQI's $12.5B in AUM dwarfs TDAQ's $227M, suggesting greater institutional adoption and lower execution friction for QQQI.

The expense ratio difference—0.68% for QQQI versus 0.83% for TDAQ—is modest but compounds when combined with the higher distribution yield in TDAQ; an investor holding TDAQ receives higher income but also pays higher fees relative to assets under management.

Who each is best for

QQQI: Fits investors seeking monthly Nasdaq-100 income with a moderate yield (14%+) who value scale, liquidity, and a longer operating track record. Suits those comfortable with options overlay but wary of the tightest hedging strategies that sacrifice upside.

TDAQ: Fits investors pursuing maximum monthly income from Nasdaq-100 exposure and willing to tolerate higher volatility and a tighter cap on capital gains in exchange for the highest distribution rate. Designed for those with a shorter time horizon or high near-term income needs who can stomach a newer, smaller fund structure.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at sustained high yields. Both funds distribute at yields exceeding 14%, well above typical equity market total returns. This structure suggests reliance on return-of-capital and systematic NAV decay unless underlying Nasdaq-100 appreciation significantly outpaces distributions over multi-year holding periods. TDAQ's 17.30% yield intensifies this risk.
  • 0DTE options volatility and gap risk in TDAQ. Zero-days-to-expiration calls reset daily, exposing TDAQ to intraday price gaps and heightened call assignment risk. A sharp single-day rally can force liquidation of upside at worse-than-expected prices, whereas QQQI's longer-dated options provide more cushion against timing mismatches.
  • Significant beta and upside cap divergence. TDAQ's beta of 1.287 paired with daily call rolling and income maximization creates a narrower band of profitable outcomes. QQQI's 1.0553 beta and more moderate income focus preserve greater upside participation if the Nasdaq-100 rallies sharply, while TDAQ's tighter call strikes may force exits well below peak prices.
  • Liquidity and operational risk in TDAQ. At $227M AUM versus QQQI's $12.5B, TDAQ faces higher per-share operating costs and lower trading volume, increasing bid-ask spreads and reinvestment friction if distributions are reinvested.
  • Concentration and tech sector drawdown risk. Both are entirely exposed to the Nasdaq-100, which is heavily weighted to mega-cap technology and AI-related names. A sharp sector correction could trigger steep NAV declines while monthly distributions continue, locking in losses for reinvesting shareholders.

Bottom line

If you value a proven track record, lower fees, and smoother volatility with meaningful upside capture, QQQI's $12.5B scale and 14.25% yield offer a more established entry point. If you prioritize maximum current income and can tolerate aggressive daily hedging, tighter upside caps, and a newer fund structure, TDAQ's 17.30% distribution may justify the higher risk—but remember that neither fund's past distributions predict future NAV stability or market returns.

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

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