LemonTrades
TL;DR
- QQQI pays every month, steadily: about $0.61 to $0.66 a share. The last 12 payments came to about $7.63, a yield near 15.6%.
- The latest was $0.6343 a share, paid October 23, 2026. It pays around the third week of each month.
- It sells options on the Nasdaq 100 index, which get favorable tax treatment, and much of its payout has been classed as return of capital.
- LemonTrades tells you what moved the Nasdaq and your funds, and why, as it happens.
QQQI launched in January 2024 and has grown to about $15 billion. Here’s its payout record.
QQQI’s recent payouts
| Paid | Per share |
|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2026 | $0.6343 |
| Sep 18, 2026 | $0.6339 |
| Aug 21, 2026 | $0.6518 |
| Jul 24, 2026 | $0.6346 |
| Jun 18, 2026 | $0.6572 |
| May 22, 2026 | $0.6589 |
| Apr 24, 2026 | $0.6297 |
| Mar 20, 2026 | $0.6089 |
| Feb 20, 2026 | $0.614 |
| Jan 23, 2026 | $0.6359 |
| Dec 26, 2025 | $0.64129 |
| Nov 28, 2025 | $0.6304 |
Notice how stable the payouts are; NEOS aims for a steady monthly amount rather than passing on whatever options earn.
How it makes its payouts
QQQI holds Nasdaq 100 stocks and sells call options on the Nasdaq 100 index. Index options are “Section 1256 contracts,” taxed as 60% long-term and 40% short-term gains. NEOS also uses tax-loss harvesting, and a large part of past payouts has been classed as return of capital, which isn’t taxed until you sell but lowers your cost basis.
What to watch
- A high payout isn’t all profit: if the fund pays out more than it earns, its share price slowly falls.
- Less upside than the Nasdaq 100 in rallies.
- Higher fee than JEPQ: 0.68% against 0.35%.
- Tax rules can change, and return-of-capital treatment varies year to year.
Compare JEPQ and SPYI, its S&P 500 sibling. For riskier, higher payouts, see ULTY.
Sources
Education, not financial advice. Past payouts don’t predict future ones. See our disclaimer.
