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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 13, 2026

Best for

  • QQQIInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 13.76%, generated by selling options premium.
  • VOOInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

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.
MetricQQQIVOO
Full nameNEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETFVanguard S&P 500 ETF
IssuerNEOSVanguard
Last Close$55.37 as of August 13, 2026$710.17 as of August 13, 2026
Distribution yield13.76%1.11%
Distribution Safety Score™ 84100
Expense ratio0.68%0.03%
AUM$13.9B$1032B
Distribution frequencyMonthlyQuarterly
Underlying indexNASDAQ 100S&P 500 Index
ObjectiveSeeks to generate high monthly income in a tax efficient manner while targeting equity appreciation.Track the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date01/29/202409/07/2010
Beta1.05531.0
Last dividend$0.6350$1.9622
Ex-dividend date07/22/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose QQQI if you want to maximize current income — roughly 13.76%, generated by selling options premium. Choose VOO if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund. There's no free lunch: QQQI's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while VOO 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$31.2B

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.

See all NEOS ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4657B

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

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VOO.

See all Vanguard 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 VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.57% total return against 22.93%. Measured from Jan 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — VOO has compounded at 21.11% a year versus 19.99% for QQQI. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 12.8% against 16.4% 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
QQQI11.81%19.57%19.99%16.4%0.811.15-9.6%
VOO13.72%22.93%21.11%12.8%1.261.83-8.9%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 12, 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 VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

QQQI offers the higher yield at 13.76% vs 1.11% for VOO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.68%.

They track different benchmarks: QQQI is linked to NASDAQ 100 while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1032B), 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 13.76% from selling options premium, vs 1.11% for VOO.
  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.

Choose VOO

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

  • Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.03% 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 $114.67/month, while VOO would produce $9.25/month, at current distribution rates.

QQQI yield13.76%
VOO yield1.11%
Monthly diff on $10K$105.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQI would cost approximately $680 in fees vs $30 for VOO (simplified, not compounded). The $650.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QQQI ER0.68%
VOO ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

QQQI tracks NASDAQ 100 with an options approach, while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 1.0553 for QQQI and 1.0 for VOO, indicating VOO is less volatile relative to the market.

QQQI beta1.0553
VOO beta1.0

Fund details

QQQI is managed by NEOS (launched 01/29/2024) with $13.9B in assets. VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1032B in assets.

QQQI AUM$13.9B
VOO AUM$1032B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for QQQI and VOO?

QQQI currently distributes 13.76% and VOO 1.11%, 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 VOO 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 VOO?

QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) tracks NASDAQ 100 with an options approach, while VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. They are issued by NEOS and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both QQQI and VOO?

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 VOO safer?

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

QQQI has an expense ratio of 0.68% while VOO charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in QQQI would generate roughly $114.67 per month ($1,376.00 annually). The same in VOO would produce about $9.25 per month ($111.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QQQI or VOO?

QQQI has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.57% total return against 22.93%. Measured from Jan 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — VOO has compounded at 21.11% a year versus 19.99% for QQQI. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 12.8% against 16.4% 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 VOO — at a glance

Generated August 8, 2026.

Overview

QQQI and VOO are both large-cap U.S. equity ETFs, but they pursue fundamentally different strategies. VOO is a straightforward S&P 500 index tracker with minimal fees and a 1.10% yield. QQQI targets the Nasdaq-100 (100 of the largest tech-heavy companies) and layers on a covered-call options overlay to generate a 13.79% distribution rate paid monthly.

How they differ

The core difference is strategy: VOO buys and holds the 500 largest U.S. companies to match the S&P 500; QQQI buys the 100 largest Nasdaq companies and systematically sells call options against them to harvest premium income. That income gap is stark—QQQI's 13.79% distribution yield dwarfs VOO's 1.10%, but it comes from selling upside, not underlying company growth.

Second, the underlying exposure is different. VOO covers a broader swath of large-cap America (financials, energy, healthcare, industrials, and tech weighted by market cap); QQQI tilts heavily toward technology and growth stocks. Their betas—1.0 for VOO, 1.0553 for QQQI—reflect that QQQI is slightly more volatile than the broad market.

Third, cost and scale differ wildly. VOO charges 0.03% annually on $1032B in assets; QQQI charges 0.68% on $13.9B. VOO has been around since 2009 and is one of the largest equity ETFs in the world. QQQI launched in January 2024, so it has no track record through a full market cycle.

Who each is best for

VOO: Fits investors seeking a simple, low-cost core holding that captures broad U.S. large-cap returns without the complexity of income engineering or call-option mechanics.

QQQI: Designed for income-focused investors comfortable with Nasdaq-100 concentration and willing to accept capped upside (via short calls) in exchange for monthly cash flow and tax-efficient distributions.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion from distribution yield. QQQI's 13.79% annual payout is substantially higher than the S&P 500's underlying dividend yield. If the call premium declines or volatility compresses, the fund may need to return capital to support this distribution rate, gradually eroding net asset value.
  • Capped upside from the options overlay. By selling calls monthly, QQQI systematically forgoes gains above the strike price. In a strong bull market for Nasdaq-100 stocks, this drag compounds.
  • Nasdaq-100 concentration risk. QQQI holds 100 stocks versus VOO's 500, and the Nasdaq-100 skews heavily to technology, semiconductors, and growth. A sector downturn hits QQQI harder than a broad diversified portfolio.
  • Newness and track record. QQQI launched in January 2024 and has not experienced a full market cycle, rate environment shift, or volatility spike. The fund's ability to manage call strikes and premium collection during market stress remains untested.
  • Call strike management and dividend risk. If QQQI's underlying stocks pay larger-than-expected dividends, the short calls may be assigned early, forcing liquidation at inopportune times.

Bottom line

VOO is the buy-and-hold core: minimal cost, broad diversification, and time-tested simplicity. QQQI is a tactical income play betting that Nasdaq-100 call premiums will sustainably exceed underlying capital gains—a higher-complexity trade-off that hinges on the fund's ability to manage strikes and volatility through a full economic cycle. If you want low-friction equity exposure, VOO stands out; if you're chasing high monthly income from tech stocks, QQQI's mechanics are worth understanding—but its brief life means the distribution is not yet proven through market stress. 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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