If you want maximum headline income
→ QLDY
QLDY leads yield (~20.0%) and also leads 1Y total return — income without an obvious total-return penalty in this window.
Two income funds compared side-by-side using the available DivAgent snapshot. See which one fits your yield strategy.
8-second verdict · always free
If you want maximum headline income
→ QLDY
QLDY leads yield (~20.0%) and also leads 1Y total return — income without an obvious total-return penalty in this window.
If you want total return (paid + price)
→ QLDY
QLDY leads 1Y total return (~14.8%) while also leading yield in this pair.
If you need sleep-at-night sizing
→ FLOT
FLOT is Tier 2 vs Tier 5 — the structurally lower-risk pick in this matchup.
QLDY currently combines a high annualized yield with a negative 1Y NAV change. That is a neutral screening signal, not evidence of how the distribution was funded. Review the reported total return and issuer documents.
When the edge flips — yield, total return, or NAV path — we email the updated tape. Plus the free Yield Trap cheat sheet: what high-yield funds actually paid vs what their prices did.
Path A · Still deciding
Related battlesMore FLOT and QLDY matchups in the same decision space — different trade-offs.
Path B · Picked a side
Full ticker auditsDeep-dive FLOT or QLDY: distribution history, risk tier, peer set.
Audit QLDY →Path C · Want a system
Leaderboard & portfoliosSee how income funds rank by risk tier and matrix cell — then track holdings free.
What this means: FLOT is ratedTier 2 (Yield Plus)while QLDY is ratedTier 5 (Octane).FLOT is structurally lower risk than QLDY.
| Metric | FLOT | QLDY |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 3.88% | 14.80% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | -0.39% | -19.12% |
| Max Drawdown | -1.94% | -13.08% |
| Beta | N/A | N/A |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
FLOT (iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF) is listed with iShares as provider. Reported assets under management: $9.3B.
Observed profile: DivAgent currently reports Tier 2, 4.27% annualized yield, -0.39% 1Y NAV change, and 3.88% 1Y total return. The tier is a risk classification; it does not by itself identify the fund's holdings or strategy.
QLDY (Defiance Nasdaq LightningSpread Income) is listed with Defiance as provider. Reported assets under management: $29.0M.
Observed profile: DivAgent currently reports Tier 5, 19.98% annualized yield, -19.12% 1Y NAV change, and 14.80% 1Y total return. The tier is a risk classification; it does not by itself identify the fund's holdings or strategy.
In the head-to-head battle of FLOT vs QLDY, the choice depends on your specific goal. QLDY leads Immediate Income with a 19.98% yield. QLDY leads 1Y Total Return in the current data.
Compare the reported annualized yield, payout frequency, and DivAgent risk tier.
QLDY currently combines a 19.98% annualized yield with a -19.12% 1Y NAV change. That combination is a screening signal to review, not proof of how distributions were funded. Distribution composition requires separate source data that this comparison does not provide.
12-MONTH PERFORMANCE BREAKDOWN:
What the current data supports:
Interpretation: compare total return and NAV change with the headline yield, and verify distribution composition from fund documents before drawing a funding conclusion.
The Bottom Line Question: If you invest $100,000 today, how much cash will you actually receive each month? Here's the exact math:
FLOT
Annual Yield: 4.27%
$356/mo
($4,270/year)
Frequency: monthly
QLDY
Annual Yield: 19.98%
$1,665/mo
($19,977/year)
Frequency: weekly
Income Gap: QLDY generates $15,707/year more than FLOT on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $314,149 in additional cash flow (before reinvestment).
Context Matters: Compare annualized yield with NAV change and total return rather than using the yield figure alone.
Historical data reveals how these funds behave during market stress. QLDY has the higher current 1Y total return at 14.80%.
What is Max Drawdown? Max drawdown measures the largest peak-to-trough decline in portfolio value during a specific period. Unlike NAV change (which only looks at start vs. end), max drawdown captures the worst moment of pain an investor experienced.
Illustrative $100,000 Position
FLOT (Smaller Reported Drawdown)
Max Drawdown: -1.94%
-$1,940
Illustrative peak-to-trough change
QLDY (Larger Reported Drawdown)
Max Drawdown: -13.08%
-$13,080
Illustrative peak-to-trough change
Observed Difference: The reported drawdowns differ by an illustrative $11,140 on a $100k position.
A smaller historical drawdown is one risk observation, not a guarantee of future downside behavior or investor outcomes.
What is an Expense Ratio? The annual fee charged by the fund, expressed as a percentage of assets. It's deducted daily from the fund's NAV, making it invisible to most investors—but it compounds over time.
FLOT (LOWER COST)
0.150%
Annual expense ratio
QLDY (HIGHER COST)
1.040%
Annual expense ratio
20-YEAR FEE IMPACT SIMULATION ($100,000 INITIAL INVESTMENT)
The Hidden Cost of "Just 0.89%": That seemingly small difference of 0.890% annually becomes $17,800 in lost wealth over 20 years. Factor in compound growth, and you're giving up ~$48,442 in potential portfolio value.
💡 Cost Efficiency Winner: FLOT is the clear winner for long-term buy-and-hold investors. Lower fees mean more capital compounds in YOUR account, not the fund manager's.
Every investor has a unique risk profile. Use our Portfolio Intelligence tool to see the impact of adding these ETFs to your holdings.