Get the weekly note
ETFIQetfiq.com · independent ETF data

Data as of .

QQQI vs XSHP: which paid, and which earned it?

QQQI and XSHP both write options for income.

NEOS Nasdaq-100(R) High Income ETF and Kurv SpaceX (SPAX) Enhanced Income ETF.

15.2%QQQI cash paid, 1 year
7.3%XSHP cash paid, 1 year
+16.4%QQQI total return, 1 year
−13.1%XSHP total return, 1 year
QQQI5.3 pts behind QQQ · 1 year to Sep 18, 2026
QQQ+21.8%QQQI+16.4%15.2% of it arrived as cash5.3 pts behind QQQTotal return, distributions reinvestedQQQ+21.8%QQQI+16.4%5.3 pts behind QQQ
XSHP16.4 pts behind SPY · since launch to Sep 18, 2026
SPY+3.3%XSHP−13.1%16.4 pts behind SPYTotal return, distributions reinvestedSPY+3.3%XSHP−13.1%16.4 pts behind SPY

Performance, window by window

QQQI and XSHP over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ.
WindowTotal returnCash paidAgainst the benchmark
QQQIXSHPQQQIXSHPQQQIXSHP
3 months−0.7%−11.0%3.4%7.4%+1.8 pts−13.3 pts
6 months+16.7%not published7.7%not published−7.5 ptsnot published
1 year+16.4%not published15.2%not published−5.3 ptsnot published
Since launch+59.6%−13.1%39.9%7.3%−12.3 pts−16.4 pts
Open the live comparison on ETFIQ
QQQI and XSHP on the same fields, as of Sep 18, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
QQQI
NEOS Nasdaq-100(R) High Income ETF
Option income on QQQ, paying monthly
XSHP
Kurv SpaceX (SPAX) Enhanced Income ETF
Covered call on SPY, paying monthly
IssuerNEOSKurv
Strategyoption incomecovered call
BenchmarkNasdaq-100 (QQQ)S&P 500 (SPY), used as the proxy
Paysmonthlymonthly
Payout rate, annualized14.0%33.5%
Expense ratio0.68%0.99%
Cash paid, 1 year15.2%7.3% (since launch on Jun 17, 2026)
Price change, 1 year−0.1%−21.8%
Total return, 1 year+16.4%−13.1% (since launch on Jun 17, 2026)
Benchmark return, 1 year+21.8%+3.3%
Ahead or behind−5.3 pts−16.4 pts
Return of capital, latest estimate98%94%
Age962 days93 days
Net assets$14.8bn$7m

QQQI in plain words

Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, QQQI paid 15.2% of its starting value in cash distributions while its price fell 0.1%. With every distribution reinvested, the fund returned +16.4%. Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) returned +21.8% over the same days, so a holder was behind by 5.3 pts. At its price on Sep 18, 2026 the latest distribution annualizes to 14.0%, paid monthly. NEOS estimates that 98% of the distribution paid Jun 18, 2026 was a return of capital (19a-1 notice, estimated, a tax characterization rather than a measure of erosion).

XSHP in plain words

Over the period since launch on Jun 17, 2026 to Sep 18, 2026, XSHP paid 7.3% of its starting value in cash distributions while its price fell 21.8%. With every distribution reinvested, the fund returned −13.1%. S&P 500 (SPY), used as the proxy returned +3.3% over the same days, so a holder was behind by 16.4 pts. At its price on Sep 18, 2026 the latest distribution annualizes to 33.5%, paid monthly. Kurv estimates that 94% of the distribution paid Sep 3, 2026 was a return of capital (19a-1 notice, estimated, a tax characterization rather than a measure of erosion).

Questions people ask

Which is cheaper, QQQI or XSHP?
QQQI charges 0.68% a year and XSHP charges 0.99%, so QQQI is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Other comparisons

Where these figures came from

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.

QQQI against XSHP, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 18, 2026. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, QQQI against XSHP, data as of Sep 18, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/income/qqqi-vs-xshp Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

How every figure is computed · Standards and sources