Dividend comparison
QQQI vs SCHD: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. SCHD is cheaper at 0.06% a year versus 0.68% for QQQI. On $10,000 that is $62 a year less in fees.
- Income. QQQI pays more income, yielding 14.11% over the last twelve months versus 3.04% for SCHD. That is about $1,107 more a year on $10,000. QQQI pays monthly, SCHD pays quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 1 year, SCHD returned 33.0% versus 0.7% for QQQI, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $13,301 in SCHD and $10,069 in QQQI.
- Risk. QQQI has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -20.0%, against -16.8% for SCHD.
- Diversification. SCHD holds 102 positions and QQQI holds 10. The ten largest positions make up 47.0% of QQQI and 41.7% of SCHD.
- Overlap. 5% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 8 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Size. SCHD is the larger fund with $114.7 billion in assets, against $15.1 billion for QQQI.
Bottom line: QQQI fits better if you care most about more income today. SCHD fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification.
| Metric | QQQI NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF | SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 14.11% | 3.04% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $7.64 | $1.05 |
| Payout frequency | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.6339 on Sep 18, 2026 | $0.2665 on Sep 28, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 16, 2026 | Sep 23, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | — | 8.7% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $54.16 | $34.69 |
| Dividend growth streak | — | 13 years |
| Beta | 0.93 | 0.58 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -20.0% | -16.8% |
| Market cap | $14.89B | $98.31B |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.68% | 0.06% |
| Assets under management | $15.08B | $114.71B |
| Number of holdings | 10 | 102 |
| Top 10 concentration | 47.0% | 41.7% |
QQQI
$117.57/mo
$1411 /yr at 14.11% yield
SCHD
$25.32/mo
$304 /yr at 3.04% yield
| Year | QQQI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7.4435 | $1.0476 |
| 2024 | — | $0.9944 |
| 2023 | — | $0.8862 |
| 2022 | — | $0.8540 |
| 2021 | — | $0.7499 |
Expect stretches of underperformance versus the broad market whenever leadership comes from the high-growth, low-yield companies these screens exclude.
What QQQI vs SCHD 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
It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which first requires at least ten consecutive years of dividends, then ranks the survivors on a composite of cash flow to total debt, return on equity, dividend yield and five-year dividend growth. The top 100 are held at market-cap weights with a 4% cap per stock and 25% per sector, reconstituted annually and rebalanced quarterly. Those quality screens push the portfolio toward mature value sectors and largely out of high-growth technology, which is the single biggest reason its return diverges from the S&P 500 in either direction.
Suits an investor who wants a growing dividend stream plus share-price participation and can sit out technology-led rallies without changing course. Not a match for someone who needs the highest available current yield or wants full market exposure.
Core dividend holding
| Period | QQQI | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -0.42% | 3.83% |
| 3 months | -0.09% | 6.77% |
| Year to date | 0.56% | 29.59% |
| 1 year | 0.69% | 33.01% |
| 3 years | — | 66.22% |
| 5 years | — | 57.90% |
- QQQI
- SCHD
Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-01-30 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- QQQI
- SCHD
QQQI10 holdings total
Quick verdict
QQQI fits better if you care most about more income today. SCHD fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. 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.