Dividend comparison
QQQ vs QQQI: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 and NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. QQQ is cheaper at 0.18% a year versus 0.68% for QQQI. On $10,000 that is $50 a year less in fees.
- Income. QQQI pays more income, yielding 14.11% over the last twelve months versus 0.53% for QQQ. That is about $1,358 more a year on $10,000. QQQ pays annual, QQQI pays monthly.
- Performance. Over the last 1 year, QQQ returned 17.8% versus 0.7% for QQQI, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $11,778 in QQQ and $10,069 in QQQI.
- Risk. QQQ has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -35.1%, against -20.0% for QQQI.
- Diversification. QQQ holds 102 positions and QQQI holds 10. The ten largest positions make up 47.2% of QQQ and 47.0% of QQQI.
- Overlap. 98% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 97 shared holdings. Owning both adds little diversification.
- Size. QQQ is the larger fund with $487.5 billion in assets, against $15.1 billion for QQQI.
Bottom line: QQQ fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns and broader diversification. QQQI fits better if you care most about more income today and smaller drawdowns. With 98% overlap, most investors would hold one or the other rather than both.
| Metric | QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | QQQI NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.53% | 14.11% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $3.79 | $7.64 |
| Payout frequency | Annual | Monthly |
| Last dividend | $0.7514 on Oct 8, 2026 | $0.6339 on Sep 18, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Dec 21, 2026 | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Next payment | $0.7941 on Dec 28, 2026 | — |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 13.3% over 4 yrs | — |
| Price | $717.63 | $54.16 |
| Beta | 1.23 | 0.93 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -35.1% | -20.0% |
| Market cap | $479.05B | $14.89B |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.18% | 0.68% |
| Assets under management | $487.46B | $15.08B |
| Number of holdings | 102 | 10 |
| Top 10 concentration | 47.2% | 47.0% |
QQQ
$4.40/mo
$53 /yr at 0.53% yield
QQQI
$117.57/mo
$1411 /yr at 14.11% yield
| Year | QQQ | QQQI |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.7949 | $7.4435 |
| 2024 | $3.0623 | — |
| 2023 | $2.3200 | — |
| 2022 | $2.1351 | — |
| 2021 | $1.6968 | — |
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
What QQQ vs QQQI actually do
The index is modified market-cap weighted and excludes financials by rule, which is why it lands so heavily in technology, communication services and consumer discretionary names. In December 2025 the fund converted from a unit investment trust to a conventional open-end fund and cut its fee, so it can now reinvest income and lend securities like its peers. It remains the most liquid Nasdaq-100 vehicle by a wide margin and the reference asset for a large share of the options-income products in this category.
Suits investors who want concentrated large-cap growth exposure and anyone who needs deep options liquidity. Dividends are incidental, so it does not answer an income mandate on its own.
Growth-tilted core, concentrated
It owns Nasdaq-100 constituents and applies the same call strategy of sold and purchased index options, sized actively rather than as a fixed full overwrite. Nasdaq-100 volatility is structurally higher, so the option premium collected is larger and the monthly distribution is bigger than the S&P 500 version. NDX options are also section 1256 contracts, so the same 60/40 tax treatment and loss-harvesting mechanics apply.
Suits someone who wants technology-heavy exposure converted into monthly cash with attention paid to tax character. A poor fit if you are holding the Nasdaq-100 specifically to compound growth, because the call overlay gives away the tail of exactly the rallies that index is bought for.
Aggressive tax-aware income
| Period | QQQ | QQQI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -0.43% | -0.42% |
| 3 months | 3.10% | -0.09% |
| Year to date | 17.09% | 0.56% |
| 1 year | 17.78% | 0.69% |
| 3 years | 105.61% | — |
| 5 years | 96.98% | — |
- QQQ
- QQQI
Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-01-30 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- QQQ
- QQQI
| Largest shared holdings | QQQ weight | QQQI weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA Corp | 8.17% | 8.20% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 7.82% | 7.81% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.19% | 6.11% |
| AMZNAmazon.com Inc | 4.42% | 4.47% |
| MUMicron Technology Inc | 4.41% | 4.40% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.79% | 3.81% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.28% | 3.25% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.15% | 3.13% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 3.02% | 2.96% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.94% | 2.90% |
QQQ102 holdings total
Quick verdict
QQQ fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns and broader diversification. QQQI fits better if you care most about more income today and smaller drawdowns. With 98% overlap, most investors would hold one or the other rather than both. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.