Dividend comparison

QYLD vs XYLD: Which Is Better for Income?

Side-by-side yield, projected income, and dividend fundamentals for Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF and Global X - S&P 500 Covered Call ETF. Updated July 26, 2026.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricQYLD
Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF
XYLD
Global X - S&P 500 Covered Call ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)
Dividend / share (TTM)
Price$17.56$40.76
Payout ratio (TTM)
Dividend growth streak1 year
Beta0.490.41
Market cap$8.43B$3.19B
ExchangeNASDAQAMEX
Expense ratio0.60%0.60%
Assets under management$8.07B$3.20B
Number of holdings104505
Top 10 concentration47.3%37.3%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

QYLD

/mo

Yield data unavailable

XYLD

/mo

Yield data unavailable

Strategy: Options income
These funds own equities and sell call options against them, converting a share of future price appreciation into cash paid out now. How much upside is surrendered depends on the design: writing at the money on the whole portfolio pays the most and keeps the least, while writing on a partial slice or using purchased offsets keeps more of a rally. Distributions come mainly from option premium rather than from company dividends, so the headline yield is not comparable to a dividend fund's.

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 QYLD vs XYLD actually do

A Global X ETF that owns the Nasdaq-100 and sells at-the-money monthly calls against the entire portfolio.

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

The S&P 500 version of the Global X buy-write approach, owning the index and selling at-the-money monthly index calls.

It tracks the Cboe S&P 500 BuyWrite Index, holding S&P 500 stocks and writing one-month calls at roughly the current index level. The mechanics match its Nasdaq sibling, but S&P 500 implied volatility is lower, so the premium collected and the resulting distribution are smaller. The same distribution guideline applies, capped at the lower of half the premiums received or 1% of net asset value.

Suits someone who wants the buy-write structure applied to a broader, less concentrated index than the Nasdaq-100. Not appropriate for an account that still needs capital growth, since full at-the-money overwriting caps the market return that funds it.

High current income, capped upside

Performance
Trailing returns from the adjusted closing price series.
PeriodQYLDXYLD
1 month-1.95%1.34%
3 months-1.84%1.75%
Year to date-0.62%0.32%
1 year9.34%8.72%
3 years30.95%28.34%
5 years33.13%34.88%
  • QYLD
  • XYLD
75109142202120222023202420252026133135

Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-07-24 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • QYLD
  • XYLD
0%16%31%47%63%Technology62.7%38.5%Communication Services13.0%9.9%Consumer Cyclical10.9%9.5%Healthcare3.7%8.9%Industrials4.1%8.4%Financial Services0.2%11.6%Consumer Defensive6.6%4.5%Energy0.5%3.0%Utilities1.3%2.2%Basic Materials1.1%1.7%Other0.1%1.8%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

QYLD104 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA CORP8.56%
AAPLAPPLE INC8.01%
MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC5.23%
MSFTMICROSOFT CORP4.81%
AMZNAMAZON.COM INC4.26%
AMDADVANCED MICRO DEVICES4.12%
AVGOBROADCOM INC3.15%
GOOGLALPHABET INC-CL A3.14%
METAMETA PLATFORMS INC3.04%
GOOGALPHABET INC-CL C2.94%

XYLD505 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA CORP8.03%
AAPLAPPLE INC7.51%
MSFTMICROSOFT CORP4.50%
AMZNAMAZON.COM INC3.63%
GOOGLALPHABET INC-CL A2.96%
AVGOBROADCOM INC2.95%
GOOGALPHABET INC-CL C2.39%
METAMETA PLATFORMS INC2.11%
MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC1.77%
LLYELI LILLY & CO1.49%

Quick verdict

Compare the metrics above, then add both tickers to a Dividend Wealth portfolio to see combined income forecasts and diversification impact.

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Frequently asked questions

Is QYLD or XYLD better for dividend income?
Compare yield, payout sustainability, and how each fund or stock fits your income goals. Use Dividend Wealth to model both holdings inside a real portfolio forecast.
What is the difference between QYLD and XYLD?
Global X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Global X - S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, price, payout ratio, dividend growth streak, beta, and market cap when available.
Can I hold both QYLD and XYLD?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare QYLD vs XYLD with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how QYLD and XYLD fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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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.