Dividend comparison
QQQI vs QDTE: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF and Roundhill Nasdaq-100 0DTE Covered Call ETF Strategy ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. QQQI is cheaper at 0.68% a year versus 0.96% for QDTE. On $10,000 that is $28 a year less in fees.
- Income. QDTE pays more income, yielding 44.45% over the last twelve months versus 14.11% for QQQI. That is about $3,034 more a year on $10,000. QQQI pays monthly, QDTE pays weekly.
- Performance. Over the last 1 year, QQQI returned 0.7% versus -18.7% for QDTE, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $10,069 in QQQI and $8,130 in QDTE.
- Risk. QDTE has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -24.3%, against -20.0% for QQQI.
- Diversification. QQQI holds 10 positions and QDTE holds 6. The ten largest positions make up 47.0% of QQQI and 191.0% of QDTE.
- Overlap. QQQI and QDTE share no holdings, so they behave as separate building blocks.
- Size. QQQI is the larger fund with $15.1 billion in assets, against $913 million for QDTE.
Bottom line: QQQI fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. QDTE fits better if you care most about more income today.
| Metric | QQQI NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF | QDTE Roundhill Nasdaq-100 0DTE Covered Call ETF Strategy ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 14.11% | 44.45% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $7.64 | $12.50 |
| Payout frequency | Monthly | Weekly |
| Last dividend | $0.6339 on Sep 18, 2026 | $0.1292 on Oct 16, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Price | $54.16 | $28.13 |
| Beta | 0.93 | 1.25 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -20.0% | -24.3% |
| Market cap | $14.89B | $902.1M |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | CBOE |
| Expense ratio | 0.68% | 0.96% |
| Assets under management | $15.08B | $912.7M |
| Number of holdings | 10 | 6 |
| Top 10 concentration | 47.0% | 191.0% |
QQQI
$117.57/mo
$1411 /yr at 14.11% yield
QDTE
$370.39/mo
$4445 /yr at 44.45% yield
| Year | QQQI | QDTE |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7.4435 | $13.5402 |
Payouts are variable rather than contractual, are often taxed as ordinary income, and a fund that pays out more than the strategy earns will see its net asset value drift down over time.
What QQQI vs QDTE actually do
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 | QQQI | QDTE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -0.42% | -2.33% |
| 3 months | -0.09% | -3.43% |
| Year to date | 0.56% | -8.79% |
| 1 year | 0.69% | -18.70% |
| 3 years | — | — |
| 5 years | — | — |
- QQQI
- QDTE
Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-03-07 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- QQQI
- QDTE
QQQI10 holdings total
QDTE6 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| 4QQQ 271119C00070110QQQ 11/19/2027 70.11 C | 73.39% |
| 4NDX 270319C02510150NDX 03/19/2027 2510.15 C | 25.86% |
| 4NDX 261218C024501004NDX US 12/18/26 C2450.1 FLX | 25.04% |
| 4NDX 270611C03059420NDX 06/11/2027 3059.42 C | 22.05% |
| 4NDX 260918C022500004NDX US 09/18/26 C2250 FLX | 18.15% |
| 4QQQ 270917C00070690QQQ 09/17/2027 70.69 C | 17.65% |
| WEEKRoundhill Weekly T-Bill ETF | 5.25% |
| FGXXXFirst American Government Obligations Fund 12/01/2031 | 3.59% |
Quick verdict
QQQI fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. QDTE fits better if you care most about more income today. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is QQQI or QDTE better for dividend income?
What is the difference between QQQI and QDTE?
Which is cheaper, QQQI or QDTE?
Which has performed better, QQQI or QDTE?
Which is riskier, QQQI or QDTE?
How often do QQQI and QDTE pay dividends?
How much income does $10,000 in QQQI vs QDTE generate?
Can I hold both QQQI and QDTE?
Where can I compare QQQI vs QDTE with my full portfolio?
Related comparisons
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.