SmarterDividends

QQQI vs SPYI: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, QQQI yields more: 15.36% (dividend yield) against 12.20% for SPYI. QQQI is cheaper to own at 0.68% a year vs 0.68%. Over the same 2 years (Jan 2024 to Oct 2026), QQQI returned 17.4% a year with distributions reinvested, and SPYI 16.0%.

ComparedQQQISPYI
YieldDividend yield15.36%12.20%
Expense ratio0.68%0.68%
Total return, 1 yr+7.1%+11.9%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)—+18.0%
Worst drop since Jan 2024-8.2%-5.5%
Share price since Jan 2024+5%+8%
PaysMonthlyMonthly
IssuerNeosNeos
Assets$14.8B$12.5B
Started20242022
TypeDerivative IncomeDerivative Income

Higher yield

QQQI

15.36%

Lower cost

QQQI

0.68%

Better total return

QQQI

17.4%/yr

Smaller worst drop

SPYI

-5.5%

Key facts: QQQI vs SPYI

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, QQQI yields 15.36% (dividend yield) and SPYI yields 12.20% (dividend yield).
  • QQQI's expense ratio is 0.68% and SPYI's is 0.68%: $68 vs $68 a year on $10,000.
  • From Jan 2024 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in QQQI grew to $15,556 (17.4% a year) and $10,000 in SPYI to $15,053 (16.0% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -8.2% for QQQI and -5.5% for SPYI.
  • 7 of QQQI's top ten holdings are also in SPYI's top ten, an overlap of at least 31% of the fund.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "QQQI vs SPYI: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/qqqi-vs-spyi

$10,000 in each, Jan 2024 to Oct 2026

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

QQQI became

$15,556

17.4% a year

SPYI became

$15,053

16.0% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Top holdings

7 of the top ten overlap, at least 31% of each fund.

QQQI

  1. AAPL Apple Inc8.1%
  2. NVDA NVIDIA Corp8.0%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp6.3%
  4. MU Micron Technology Inc4.5%
  5. AMZN Amazon.com Inc4.2%
  6. AMD Advanced Micro Devices Inc3.7%
  7. TSLA Tesla Inc3.4%
  8. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A3.0%
  9. WMT Walmart Inc2.7%
  10. GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.6%

SPYI

  1. AAPL Apple Inc7.7%
  2. NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.6%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp5.9%
  4. AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.6%
  5. GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.5%
  6. AVGO Broadcom Inc2.4%
  7. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A2.0%
  8. GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C2.0%
  9. LLY Eli Lilly and Co1.7%
  10. TSLA Tesla Inc1.7%

QQQI vs SPYI: questions

Is QQQI or SPYI better?

It depends on the job. QQQI pays more today (15.36% vs 12.20%), QQQI costs less, and QQQI has the better total return over Jan 2024 to Oct 2026, with SPYI 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, QQQI or SPYI?

QQQI, at 15.36% against 12.20% for SPYI as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $1,536 vs $1,220 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

QQQI. From Jan 2024 to Oct 2026, it returned 17.4% a year with distributions reinvested, against 16.0% for SPYI. $10,000 became $15,556 vs $15,053.

Which is cheaper, QQQI or SPYI?

QQQI, with a 0.68% expense ratio against 0.68%.

Do QQQI and SPYI hold the same things?

Partly. 7 of their top ten holdings match (AAPL, NVDA, MSFT, AMZN), at least 31% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. SPYI leads on 3 of 4 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.