SmarterDividends

JEPQ vs KNG: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, JEPQ yields more: 11.71% (dividend yield) against 7.98% for KNG. JEPQ is cheaper to own at 0.35% a year vs 0.74%. Over the same 4 years (May 2022 to Oct 2026), JEPQ returned 15.9% a year with distributions reinvested, and KNG 7.3%.

ComparedJEPQKNG
YieldDividend yield11.71%7.98%
Expense ratio0.35%0.74%
Total return, 1 yr+9.5%+16.4%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+20.0%+12.2%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)—+6.1%
Worst drop since May 2022-13.5%-12.2%
Share price since May 2022+17%−2%
PaysMonthlyMonthly
IssuerJPMorganFirst Trust
Assets$42.5B$3.4B
Started20222018
TypeDerivative IncomeDerivative Income

Higher yield

JEPQ

11.71%

Lower cost

JEPQ

0.35%

Better total return

JEPQ

15.9%/yr

Smaller worst drop

KNG

-12.2%

Key facts: JEPQ vs KNG

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, JEPQ yields 11.71% (dividend yield) and KNG yields 7.98% (dividend yield).
  • JEPQ's expense ratio is 0.35% and KNG's is 0.74%: $35 vs $74 a year on $10,000.
  • From May 2022 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in JEPQ grew to $19,205 (15.9% a year) and $10,000 in KNG to $13,627 (7.3% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -13.5% for JEPQ and -12.2% for KNG.
  • 0 of JEPQ's top ten holdings are also in KNG's top ten.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "JEPQ vs KNG: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/jepq-vs-kng

$10,000 in each, May 2022 to Oct 2026

Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.

JEPQ became

$19,205

15.9% a year

KNG became

$13,627

7.3% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearJEPQKNG
2025+15.2%+6.6%
2024+24.8%+6.0%
2023+36.3%+7.5%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

Top holdings

No overlap in the top ten.

JEPQ

  1. AAPL Apple Inc7.0%
  2. NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.0%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp5.6%
  4. MU Micron Technology Inc4.3%
  5. GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C4.1%
  6. AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.8%
  7. AMD Advanced Micro Devices Inc3.4%
  8. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A2.7%
  9. TSLA Tesla Inc2.4%
  10. WMT Walmart Inc2.0%

KNG

  1. ROP Roper Technologies Inc1.9%
  2. FDS FactSet Research Systems Inc1.8%
  3. BDX Becton Dickinson & Co1.8%
  4. IBM International Business Machines Corp1.7%
  5. EMR Emerson Electric Co1.7%
  6. CVX Chevron Corp1.7%
  7. ERIE Erie Indemnity Co Class A1.6%
  8. XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corp1.6%
  9. MDT Medtronic PLC1.6%
  10. ADP Automatic Data Processing Inc1.6%

JEPQ vs KNG: questions

Is JEPQ or KNG better?

It depends on the job. JEPQ pays more today (11.71% vs 7.98%), JEPQ costs less, and JEPQ has the better total return over May 2022 to Oct 2026, with KNG holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.

Which pays a higher dividend, JEPQ or KNG?

JEPQ, at 11.71% against 7.98% for KNG as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $1,171 vs $798 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

JEPQ. From May 2022 to Oct 2026, it returned 15.9% a year with distributions reinvested, against 7.3% for KNG. $10,000 became $19,205 vs $13,627.

Which is cheaper, JEPQ or KNG?

JEPQ, with a 0.35% expense ratio against 0.74%.

Do JEPQ and KNG hold the same things?

Not at the top: none of their top ten holdings match.

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. JEPQ leads on 4 of 6 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.