If you want maximum headline income
→ QQQY
QQQY leads yield (~31.1%) 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
→ QQQY
QQQY leads yield (~31.1%) and also leads 1Y total return — income without an obvious total-return penalty in this window.
If you want total return (paid + price)
→ QQQY
QQQY leads 1Y total return (~14.3%) while also leading yield in this pair.
If you need sleep-at-night sizing
→ Neither alone
Both sit at Tier 4+ (elevated structural risk). Size inside a diversified sleeve with Tier 1–2 ballast.
QQQY 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 QQQY and SPYH matchups in the same decision space — different trade-offs.
Path B · Picked a side
Full ticker auditsDeep-dive QQQY or SPYH: distribution history, risk tier, peer set.
Audit SPYH →Path C · Want a system
Leaderboard & portfoliosSee how income funds rank by risk tier and matrix cell — then track holdings free.
What this means: Both QQQY and SPYH fall intoTier 4: Harvest. This suggests they share a similar risk profile and volatility expectation.
| Metric | QQQY | SPYH |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 14.30% | 10.86% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | -14.71% | 3.00% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.71% | -19.42% |
| Beta | N/A | N/A |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
QQQY (Defiance Nasdaq 100 Enhanced Options) is listed with Defiance as provider. Reported assets under management: $172.9M.
Observed profile: DivAgent currently reports Tier 4, 31.10% annualized yield, -14.71% 1Y NAV change, and 14.30% 1Y total return. The tier is a risk classification; it does not by itself identify the fund's holdings or strategy.
SPYH (NEOS S&P 500 Hedged) is listed with NEOS as provider. Reported assets under management: $26.9M.
Observed profile: DivAgent currently reports Tier 4, 7.85% annualized yield, 3.00% 1Y NAV change, and 10.86% 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 QQQY vs SPYH, the choice depends on your specific goal. QQQY leads Immediate Income with a 31.10% yield. QQQY leads 1Y Total Return in the current data.
Compare the reported annualized yield, payout frequency, and DivAgent risk tier.
QQQY currently combines a 31.10% annualized yield with a -14.71% 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:
QQQY
Annual Yield: 31.10%
$2,592/mo
($31,099/year)
Frequency: weekly
SPYH
Annual Yield: 7.85%
$654/mo
($7,850/year)
Frequency: monthly
Income Gap: QQQY generates $23,248/year more than SPYH on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $464,966 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. QQQY has the higher current 1Y total return at 14.30%.
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
SPYH (Smaller Reported Drawdown)
Max Drawdown: -19.42%
-$19,420
Illustrative peak-to-trough change
QQQY (Larger Reported Drawdown)
Max Drawdown: -24.71%
-$24,710
Illustrative peak-to-trough change
Observed Difference: The reported drawdowns differ by an illustrative $5,290 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.
SPYH (LOWER COST)
0.680%
Annual expense ratio
QQQY (HIGHER COST)
1.010%
Annual expense ratio
20-YEAR FEE IMPACT SIMULATION ($100,000 INITIAL INVESTMENT)
The Hidden Cost of "Just 0.33%": That seemingly small difference of 0.330% annually becomes $6,600 in lost wealth over 20 years. Factor in compound growth, and you're giving up ~$17,154 in potential portfolio value.
💡 Cost Efficiency Winner: SPYH 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.