Dividend comparison
SPYI vs QQQI: Which Is Better for Income?
Side-by-side yield, projected income, and dividend fundamentals for Neos S&P 500(R) High Income ETF and NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF. Updated July 26, 2026.
| Metric | SPYI Neos S&P 500(R) High Income ETF | QQQI NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | — | — |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | — | — |
| Price | $52.30 | $52.73 |
| Payout ratio (TTM) | — | — |
| Dividend growth streak | 2 years | — |
| Beta | 0.69 | 0.91 |
| Market cap | $10.18B | $5.34B |
| Exchange | CBOE | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.68% | 0.68% |
| Assets under management | $10.64B | $13.37B |
| Number of holdings | 10 | 10 |
| Top 10 concentration | 37.0% | 45.8% |
SPYI
—/mo
Yield data unavailable
QQQI
—/mo
Yield data unavailable
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 SPYI vs QQQI actually do
It owns the index constituents, then layers on a data-driven call strategy that can include both sold and purchased SPX options, so the manager can dial how much upside is given away instead of overwriting the whole book every month. SPX options are section 1256 contracts, which are marked to market and taxed 60% long-term and 40% short-term regardless of holding period, and NEOS also harvests losses inside the options sleeve. Together those choices change the tax character of what lands in your account, which is the main thing separating this from an ordinary buy-write fund.
Suits a taxable-account holder who wants S&P 500 exposure with a much larger monthly payout and cares about how that income is taxed. Not for someone who wants uncapped participation in a strong bull market or the lowest possible expense ratio.
Tax-aware equity income
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 | SPYI | QQQI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 0.25% | -4.02% |
| 3 months | 0.19% | -2.28% |
| Year to date | -0.44% | -2.10% |
| 1 year | 6.82% | 5.17% |
| 3 years | 38.87% | — |
| 5 years | — | — |
- SPYI
- QQQI
Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-01-30 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- SPYI
- QQQI
SPYI10 holdings total
Quick verdict
Compare the metrics above, then add both tickers to a Dividend Wealth portfolio to see combined income forecasts and diversification impact.
Frequently asked questions
Is SPYI or QQQI better for dividend income?
What is the difference between SPYI and QQQI?
Can I hold both SPYI and QQQI?
Where can I compare SPYI vs QQQI with my full portfolio?
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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.