SCHD vs JEPI vs JEPQ vs QQQI — the income ETF comparison
The four funds readers compare most. They all pay income, but they earn it in completely different ways — and that difference decides which one fits your goal.
| SCHD | JEPI | JEPQ | QQQI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy | Owns 100 dividend-growing US companies, screened for quality and payout strength | Defensive US stocks plus covered calls (ELNs) on the S&P 500 | Nasdaq-100 stocks plus covered calls — JEPI's growth-tilted sibling | Nasdaq-100 covered calls, structured to be more tax-efficient |
| Approx. yield | 3.4% | 7.2% | 9.0% | 13.5% |
| Pays | Quarterly | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
| Dividend growth | Strong — its core appeal | Minimal | Minimal | None targeted |
| Price upside | Full market participation | Capped by the call overlay | Capped, but Nasdaq tilt adds growth | Capped by the call overlay |
| Best for | Long-term growers building future income | Income now, with lower volatility | Higher monthly income, some growth exposure | Maximum monthly cashflow, tax-aware accounts |
Yields are approximate trailing figures (October 2026) and move with prices and option premiums. Higher yield here almost always means less dividend growth and capped upside — compare the 20-year outcome of each in the calculator above rather than yield alone.
Compare any two tickers, same money in both
Pick any two tickers from the directory. Both get the identical investment, contribution and time horizon, each with its own yield and growth assumptions and DRIP switched on — so the only difference is the ticker itself.
Each side uses that ticker's page assumptions (starting yield, dividend growth, price growth). Edit them individually on the ticker's own page, or in the main calculator, to test your own view.