QQQI vs SDY: ETF Comparison
Compare QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq 100 High Income ETF) and SDY (SPDR S&P Dividend ETF) side by side by average annual total return since inception — one fair number covering price and dividends.
Updated Aug 4, 2026
*For entertainment purposes ONLY! NOT financial advice! Data may be inaccurate.*
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QQQI vs SDY: The Verdict
On average annual total return since inception, QQQI decisively outperforms SDY: +17.6% per year vs +9.0% per year — a gap of 8.6 percentage points annually. Total return counts both price movement and dividends, so this is the whole picture of each fund's performance, not just yield.
Keep the track records in mind: SDY has been trading for 20.7 years, while QQQI has only 2.5 years of history. A shorter track record means the younger fund's average has been shaped by fewer market environments — one strong or weak stretch moves the needle more.
Income investors will notice the yield gap: QQQI currently yields 14.0% vs SDY's 2.6%. Higher yield often comes with trade-offs in price appreciation, which is exactly why total return is the fairer scoreboard.
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QQQI vs SDY Side-by-Side Data
| Symbol | Name | Provider | Inception | Age | Total Return | Avg. Annual Return | Yield | Expense Ratio | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QQQI | NEOS Nasdaq 100 High Income ETF | NEOS | 1/20/2024 | 2.5y | +51.0% | +17.6% | 14.0% | 0.68% | B |
| SDY | SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | State Street | 11/8/2005 | 20.7y | +497.0% | +9.0% | 2.6% | 0.35% | A |
QQQI vs SDY — Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, QQQI or SDY?
By average annual total return since inception, QQQI decisively outperforms SDY (+17.6% vs +9.0% per year). "Better" depends on your goals — yield, payout frequency, and strategy differ between the two funds.
What is the difference between QQQI and SDY?
QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq 100 High Income ETF) is offered by NEOS and currently yields 14.0%. SDY (SPDR S&P Dividend ETF) is offered by State Street and yields 2.6%. Their average annual total returns since inception are +17.6% and +9.0% respectively.
Does QQQI pay a higher dividend than SDY?
QQQI currently yields 14.0% and SDY yields 2.6%. Remember that yield alone doesn't capture performance — total return (price + dividends) is the fairer comparison.