Dividend comparison
QQQI vs TSPY: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF and TappAlpha SPY Growth & Daily Income ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. QQQI is cheaper at 0.68% a year versus 0.71% for TSPY. On $10,000 that is $3 a year less in fees.
- Income. Their trailing yields are almost the same: 14.11% for QQQI and 14.08% for TSPY. Both pay monthly.
- Performance. Over the last 1 year, TSPY returned 2.0% versus 0.7% for QQQI, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $10,197 in TSPY 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 -18.0% for TSPY.
- Diversification. QQQI holds 10 positions and TSPY holds 4. The ten largest positions make up 47.0% of QQQI and 99.8% of TSPY.
- Overlap. QQQI and TSPY share no holdings, so they behave as separate building blocks.
- Size. QQQI is the larger fund with $15.1 billion in assets, against $359 million for TSPY.
Bottom line: QQQI has the edge on these figures, with lower fees and broader diversification. TSPY does not lead on any of the measures compared here.
| Metric | QQQI NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF | TSPY TappAlpha SPY Growth & Daily Income ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 14.11% | 14.08% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $7.64 | $3.57 |
| Payout frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Last dividend | $0.6339 on Sep 18, 2026 | $0.2968 on Oct 7, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Price | $54.16 | $25.32 |
| Beta | 0.93 | 1.04 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -20.0% | -18.0% |
| Market cap | $14.89B | $118.0M |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.68% | 0.71% |
| Assets under management | $15.08B | $358.9M |
| Number of holdings | 10 | 4 |
| Top 10 concentration | 47.0% | 99.8% |
QQQI
$117.57/mo
$1411 /yr at 14.11% yield
TSPY
$117.33/mo
$1408 /yr at 14.08% yield
| Year | QQQI | TSPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7.4435 | $3.4921 |
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 TSPY 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 | TSPY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -0.42% | 0.00% |
| 3 months | -0.09% | 0.32% |
| Year to date | 0.56% | -0.71% |
| 1 year | 0.69% | 1.97% |
| 3 years | — | — |
| 5 years | — | — |
- QQQI
- TSPY
Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-08-15 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- QQQI
- TSPY
QQQI10 holdings total
Quick verdict
QQQI has the edge on these figures, with lower fees and broader diversification. TSPY does not lead on any of the measures compared here. 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.