Complete guide to QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100® High Income ETF) — 2026 ex-dividend dates, payout history, ~14% yield, Section 1256 tax efficiency, and a free monthly income calculator. Educational content only — not investment advice.
QQQI is the NEOS Nasdaq-100® High Income ETF, listed on NASDAQ (ticker: QQQI). It seeks to generate high monthly income in a tax-efficient manner while also providing potential for equity appreciation by holding Nasdaq-100 index stocks and selling covered call options on the NDX index.
Unlike many covered-call ETFs that sell options mechanically, NEOS actively manages the call writing strategy — including the ability to buy upside call options to improve participation in rising markets. This makes QQQI a more flexible income strategy than simple rules-based alternatives.
The fund launched January 30, 2024 and quickly grew to near $1 billion in AUM within its first year, making it one of the fastest-growing income ETFs in the market.
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Explore Pro Platform ⭐All 12 declaration, ex-dividend, record, and payable dates are officially confirmed for 2026. Distribution amounts ($/share) for June–December will be announced closer to each declaration date. Always verify current amounts at neosfunds.com before making investment decisions.
| Month | Declaration Date | Ex-Div Date | Record Date | Payable Date | Amount/Share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Jan 20, 2026 | Jan 21, 2026 | Jan 21, 2026 | Jan 23, 2026 | $0.6359 | Confirmed |
| February 2026 | Feb 17, 2026 | Feb 18, 2026 | Feb 18, 2026 | Feb 20, 2026 | $0.6140 | Confirmed |
| March 2026 | Mar 17, 2026 | Mar 18, 2026 | Mar 18, 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 | $0.6089 | Confirmed |
| April 2026 | Apr 21, 2026 | Apr 22, 2026 | Apr 22, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | $0.6297 | Confirmed |
| May 2026 | May 19, 2026 | May 20, 2026 | May 20, 2026 | May 22, 2026 | $0.6589 | Confirmed |
| June 2026 | Jun 15, 2026 | Jun 16, 2026 | Jun 16, 2026 | Jun 18, 2026 | TBA | Dates Confirmed |
| July 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 | Jul 22, 2026 | Jul 22, 2026 | Jul 24, 2026 | TBA | Dates Confirmed |
| August 2026 | Aug 18, 2026 | Aug 19, 2026 | Aug 19, 2026 | Aug 21, 2026 | TBA | Dates Confirmed |
| September 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | Sep 16, 2026 | Sep 16, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 | TBA | Dates Confirmed |
| October 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | TBA | Dates Confirmed |
| November 2026 | Nov 17, 2026 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | TBA | Dates Confirmed |
| December 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 | TBA | Dates Confirmed |
NEOS has pre-announced all declaration, ex-dividend, record, and payable dates for every month of 2026 — a full year of scheduled dates. This is unusually investor-friendly and gives you a complete income calendar to plan around.
Distribution amounts ($ per share) for June through December 2026 are marked "TBA" — NEOS announces the exact dollar amount approximately 1–2 weeks before each declaration date. The Jan–May amounts are fully confirmed. Always verify the latest amounts at neosfunds.com.
To receive a dividend, you must own shares before the ex-dividend date. Buying on or after the ex-date means you will NOT receive that month's distribution — the seller does.
TopDividendETFsPro.com tracks real-time dividend announcements across 100+ ETFs. Get alerts, daily updated data, and compare QQQI's dates against other monthly income ETFs in one place.
QQQI has paid monthly distributions since its January 2024 inception. In 2025, the fund paid a total of approximately $7.44 per share across 12 monthly payments.
| Period | Ex-Date | Payment Date | Amount/Share | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | May 20, 2026 | May 22, 2026 | $0.6589 | ~14% |
| April 2026 | Apr 22, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | $0.6297 | ~14% |
| March 2026 | Mar 18, 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 | $0.6089 | ~14% |
| Feb 2026 | Feb 18, 2026 | Feb 20, 2026 | ~$0.62 | ~14% |
| Jan 2026 | Jan 21, 2026 | Jan 23, 2026 | ~$0.62 | ~14% |
| FY 2025 Total | Jan–Dec 2025 | 12 monthly payments | ~$7.44/share | ~14% |
| FY 2024 (partial) | Feb–Dec 2024 | 11 monthly payments | ~$7.00/share | ~14% |
| Inception | Jan 30, 2024 | — | First distribution Feb 2024 | |
Confirmed 2026 monthly payouts ($/share)
QQQI has demonstrated an upward distribution trend in 2026. From $0.6089 in March to $0.6589 in May, distributions have increased 8% in just three months — reflecting stronger option premium income as Nasdaq-100 volatility remained elevated.
Over the trailing 12 months, QQQI has paid approximately $7.60 per share, with the fund growing distributions for 1 successive year as of early 2026. Distribution amounts vary each month based on option premium income, market conditions, and NEOS's active management decisions.
Based on a ~14% annual distribution rate. Adjust investment amount and yield assumption to model different scenarios.
*Assumes $55 share price for shares calculation. Annual = Investment × Selected Rate. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Distributions are not fixed and vary monthly. This is not investment advice.
Want to model QQQI's real historical performance including NAV changes? Our Pro platform runs true total return simulations — not just distribution estimates — so you can see the complete picture.
Run Real Return Simulations ⭐QQQI invests directly in the stocks that make up the Nasdaq-100 Index, giving investors equity exposure to top technology and growth companies including Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta.
The fund sells (writes) call options on the NDX index — the index-level version of the Nasdaq-100. Because the fund owns the underlying stocks, these options are "covered." Selling these calls generates option premium income, which forms the bulk of QQQI's monthly distributions.
Unlike rules-based covered call ETFs, NEOS actively manages the options strategy. When the market is rising strongly, NEOS may purchase out-of-the-money call options (creating a "call spread") to allow the fund to participate in some of the Nasdaq-100's upside beyond the strike price. This flexibility is a key differentiator of QQQI vs. static covered call funds.
NEOS may also opportunistically harvest tax losses on both the equity holdings and options positions throughout the year. This can offset realized gains and improve after-tax efficiency for taxable accounts.
Curious how QQQI stacks up against other Nasdaq-100 income ETFs? Our Pro platform has side-by-side comparison tools with total return data, tax treatment grades, NAV decay analysis, and more.
QQQI uses NDX index options — not options on individual stocks or ETFs. NDX options qualify as Section 1256 contracts under IRS rules, which means they receive a special 60% long-term / 40% short-term capital gains treatment regardless of how long the position was held.
This is significantly more favorable than a fund that uses short-term options that would otherwise be taxed at 100% ordinary income rates. For investors in higher tax brackets, this can make a meaningful difference in after-tax returns.
Additionally, QQQI distributions have historically been classified largely as return of capital, which is not taxed as current income. Instead, it reduces your cost basis — deferring the tax until you eventually sell your shares. At that point, you may owe capital gains taxes on the difference.
Return of capital (ROC) reduces your cost basis. If your cost basis reaches zero, further ROC distributions are taxed as capital gains. This can create a larger tax liability when you eventually sell.
ROC can be misleading as "income." Some or all of your distribution may be your own money being returned to you, not new income generated by the fund.
Always consult a qualified tax advisor before making investment decisions based on tax treatment. Tax laws change, and individual circumstances vary significantly.
Want to see QQQI's actual 19a-1 tax breakdowns by month? TopDividendETFsPro.com tracks return of capital vs. income classification history so you can make fully informed decisions.
View Tax Breakdown Data ⭐Because QQQI sells call options, the fund's ability to benefit from a strong Nasdaq-100 rally is limited. If the Nasdaq-100 rises significantly above the strike price, QQQI cannot fully participate. While NEOS's active strategy may capture some upside via call spreads, total return will often lag a buy-and-hold Nasdaq-100 index fund in strong bull markets.
QQQI holds actual Nasdaq-100 stocks. If the Nasdaq-100 falls sharply, the fund experiences the full loss. The option premium income provides some cushion but does not eliminate equity downside risk. During a significant market decline, your total investment can decrease substantially.
In bear markets or flat/declining equity environments, the distribution income may outpace the fund's ability to generate returns, leading to gradual net asset value (NAV) decline over time. A declining NAV means each share is worth less, even if monthly distributions continue. This is sometimes called "distribution yield inflation" as the yield % rises as NAV falls.
QQQI's monthly distributions are NOT fixed. They vary based on market volatility, option premium income, and NEOS management decisions. Higher volatility generally produces higher option income; lower volatility periods may result in smaller distributions. There is no guarantee any specific distribution amount will continue.
QQQI charges a 0.68% annual expense ratio. While reasonable for an actively managed income ETF, this is significantly higher than passive Nasdaq-100 index funds. Over long holding periods, this cost drag compounds and can reduce total returns.
Because QQQI tracks the Nasdaq-100, the portfolio is heavily concentrated in technology and growth stocks. This means sector-specific risks — regulation, rising rates, earnings disappointments, or valuation compression in tech — can disproportionately impact the fund compared to more diversified ETFs.
Educational comparison only. Data approximate as of mid-2026. Always verify current figures before investing.
| Feature | QQQI | QYLD | JEPQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | NEOS | Global X | JPMorgan |
| Approx. Yield | ~14% | ~11–12% | ~10–11% |
| Pay Frequency | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
| Options Strategy | Active NDX | Passive NDX | ELN / active |
| Upside Capture | Partial (active) | Very limited | Partial |
| Section 1256 Tax | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Expense Ratio | 0.68% | 0.60% | 0.35% |
| Inception | Jan 2024 | Dec 2019 | May 2022 |
QQQI vs. QYLD: Both use NDX options with Section 1256 tax treatment, but QQQI is actively managed and can employ call spreads to capture upside. QYLD writes at-the-money covered calls passively, severely capping upside. QQQI has generally outperformed QYLD on total returns since inception.
QQQI vs. JEPQ: JEPQ uses equity-linked notes (ELNs) rather than direct NDX options, losing the Section 1256 tax advantage. QQQI typically offers a higher yield than JEPQ but at a higher expense ratio and with heavier options strategy risk.
The comparison above is just a preview. At TopDividendETFsPro.com, you can filter and compare QQQI against every major income ETF — with real total return data, NAV decay tracking, tax treatment grades, and side-by-side yield history charts.
The next confirmed ex-dividend date for QQQI is June 16, 2026, with a declaration date of June 15 and a payment date of June 18, 2026. After that, NEOS has already confirmed all remaining 2026 dates: July 22, August 19, September 16, October 21, November 18, and December 16. Dollar amounts for June onward will be announced closer to each declaration date. Always verify the latest amounts at neosfunds.com.
As of June 2026, QQQI's trailing 12-month dividend yield is approximately 13.5%–14%. The exact yield fluctuates with both the share price and monthly distribution amount. Distribution rate (annualizing the most recent distribution divided by NAV) has been running around 13.8%–14.9% depending on the month. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
QQQI pays dividends monthly — 12 times per year. The ex-dividend date is typically around the third Tuesday of each month, and the payment date follows approximately 2 business days later. Since inception in January 2024, QQQI has not missed a monthly distribution.
Yes, historically a large portion — sometimes over 90% — of QQQI's distributions have been classified as return of capital (ROC). This is largely a result of the Section 1256 contract structure and tax-loss harvesting. ROC is not taxed as current income; instead, it reduces your adjusted cost basis. This deferral can be tax-advantageous, but it also means you'll owe capital gains taxes on a lower cost basis when you eventually sell. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
QQQI launched on January 30, 2024 on the NASDAQ exchange. It is managed by NEOS Investments and has an expense ratio of 0.68%. Within one year of launch, the fund grew to approximately $900 million in AUM, making it one of the fastest-growing active income ETFs in recent history.
QQQI charges a 0.68% annual expense ratio. For a $10,000 investment, this equals roughly $68 per year in fee drag. While higher than passive index ETFs (QQQ charges ~0.20%), the 0.68% is competitive among actively managed covered-call income ETFs, which typically range from 0.60%–1.00%.
QQQI can be a compelling income tool for investors seeking high monthly cash flow from a tech/growth-oriented portfolio, particularly those who value the Section 1256 tax efficiency. However, it comes with real trade-offs: capped upside in strong bull markets, full equity downside, variable distributions, and the complexity of return-of-capital tax treatment. It is not appropriate for all investors. This is educational information only — not investment advice. Always consult a licensed financial advisor.
Yes, QQQI holds the same stocks that make up the Nasdaq-100 Index — the same companies found in QQQ. The key difference is QQQI's options overlay: while QQQ provides pure index exposure, QQQI sells call options against those holdings to generate income, capping some of the upside in exchange for monthly cash distributions.
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Disclosure: TopDividendETFs.com is NOT affiliated with NEOS Investments, NEOS ETF Trust, or any fund manager. We independently share public dividend and performance information for educational purposes only. This is NOT investment advice. Always conduct your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Last updated: June 2026 • Data sources: NEOS Investments, public fund records, SEC filings, DividendInvestor.com • For educational use only