Dividend comparison
QYLD vs SCHD: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call 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 0.60% for QYLD. On $10,000 that is $54 a year less in fees.
- Income. QYLD pays more income, yielding 11.66% over the last twelve months versus 3.04% for SCHD. That is about $862 more a year on $10,000. QYLD pays monthly, SCHD pays quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SCHD returned 57.9% versus 34.3% for QYLD, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $15,790 in SCHD and $13,431 in QYLD.
- Risk. QYLD has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -24.5%, against -16.8% for SCHD.
- Diversification. QYLD holds 102 positions and SCHD holds 102. The ten largest positions make up 48.9% of QYLD 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.
- Dividend growth. SCHD grew its yearly payout 8.7% a year over the last 4 years, versus -2.0% for QYLD.
- Size. SCHD is the larger fund with $114.7 billion in assets, against $8.4 billion for QYLD.
Bottom line: QYLD fits better if you care most about more income today. SCHD fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth.
| Metric | QYLD Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF | SCHD Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 11.66% | 3.04% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $2.13 | $1.05 |
| Payout frequency | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.1767 on Sep 24, 2026 | $0.2665 on Sep 28, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Oct 19, 2026 | Sep 23, 2026 |
| Next payment | $0.1830 on Oct 22, 2026 | — |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | -2.0% over 4 yrs | 8.7% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $18.28 | $34.69 |
| Dividend growth streak | — | 13 years |
| Beta | 0.48 | 0.58 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -24.5% | -16.8% |
| Market cap | $8.38B | $98.31B |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.60% | 0.06% |
| Assets under management | $8.36B | $114.71B |
| Number of holdings | 102 | 102 |
| Top 10 concentration | 48.9% | 41.7% |
QYLD
$97.14/mo
$1166 /yr at 11.66% yield
SCHD
$25.32/mo
$304 /yr at 3.04% yield
| Year | QYLD | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.3793 | $1.0476 |
| 2024 | $2.1045 | $0.9944 |
| 2023 | $2.0380 | $0.8862 |
| 2022 | $2.5261 | $0.8540 |
| 2021 | $2.5810 | $0.7499 |
Expect stretches of underperformance versus the broad market whenever leadership comes from the high-growth, low-yield companies these screens exclude.
What QYLD vs SCHD actually do
It follows the Cboe Nasdaq-100 BuyWrite V2 Index: hold the constituents, then write a one-month index call struck at roughly the current level. Writing at the money collects the maximum premium but leaves almost no room to participate when the index rises, so in an up year the fund keeps the premium and forfeits the move. Global X's stated guideline caps the monthly distribution at the lower of half the premiums received or 1% of net asset value, with the excess reinvested.
Suits an investor whose priority is the largest, steadiest monthly payment available from Nasdaq exposure and who does not need the principal to grow. It is a poor long-horizon holding: surrendering nearly all upside on a high-growth index while paying out the premium has historically left the share price grinding lower over full cycles.
Maximum current income, capped upside
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 | QYLD | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -0.49% | 3.83% |
| 3 months | 2.64% | 6.77% |
| Year to date | 3.45% | 29.59% |
| 1 year | 6.96% | 33.01% |
| 3 years | 42.70% | 66.22% |
| 5 years | 34.31% | 57.90% |
- QYLD
- SCHD
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- QYLD
- SCHD
QYLD102 holdings total
Quick verdict
QYLD fits better if you care most about more income today. SCHD fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is QYLD or SCHD better for dividend income?
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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.