DIVO vs QYLD — income now or growth kept?

DIVO and QYLD both pay monthly, but their stored strategy descriptions show different sources of cash. DIVO holds a concentrated portfolio of dividend payers and writes calls tactically. QYLD writes at-the-money calls on the Nasdaq-100 each month, systematically converting much of the potential upside into premium. DIVO's issuer-sourced price was $46.70 as of July 16, 2026; QYLD's was $18.30 as of July 15. Those share prices do not compare income efficiency or total return.

DIVO reported a 4.80% distribution rate and a 1.57% SEC 30-day yield. QYLD reported an 11.92% distribution rate and a 0.03% SEC yield. Distribution rate annualizes recent payouts, while SEC yield is a standardized net-investment-income measure. Dividends, option proceeds, and tax classifications affect the cash paid, so the two measures are not interchangeable. QYLD's larger distribution rate is not a total-return ranking, and neither rate is a forecast.

Across the latest 12 recurring events, DIVO paid $2.96945 per share, averaging $0.24745 with amounts from $0.17244 to $0.95339. QYLD paid $2.0972, averaging $0.17477 with amounts from $0.1653 to $0.1854. DIVO's total was 50.35% above its prior 12-event window, while QYLD's was 6.91% below its prior window. DIVO's wide range shows why a 12-event change is not a smooth growth rate; both histories remain observations rather than predictions.

DIVO's expense ratio was 0.56%, compared with 0.60% for QYLD. DIVO reported a 69% trailing return-of-capital share, while the stored QYLD facts did not provide one. Return of capital generally reduces cost basis and may defer tax, subject to final reporting; it is not free money and does not by itself show whether NAV was preserved. The structural distinction is dividend income plus selective calls on one side versus systematic at-the-money Nasdaq-100 call writing on the other.

AI-assisted analysis · generated 2026-07-17 from each fund’s stored, issuer-sourced data · reviewed structure, not advice