Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD)

The S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.24%) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC -0.67%) are hovering around all-time highs and are up 106.6% and 68%, respectively, from the start of 2023 through Aug. 15. But investors who feel the broader indexes are running hot don't have to overhaul their portfolios based on emotion.

Signal Advisors Wealth, LLC increased its stake in Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD 0.12%) by 1.4 million shares during Q2 2025, bringing its total stake in the ETF to more than 1.7 million shares, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

I am downgrading the Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF from 'Sell' to 'Strong Sell' due to its chronic underperformance vs. newer, more sophisticated covered-call ETFs like QQQI. QYLD's rigid at-the-money call strategy consistently limits upside and fails to boost income during volatile markets, resulting in weak total returns. Actively managed funds like QQQI adjust strike prices and buy out-of-the-money calls, capturing more upside and providing higher income and better capital preservation.

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The Nasdaq has been rallying nonstop since April. Let's discuss three covered call fund payouts up to 11.2% that play the rally.

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The Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF offers aggressive tech exposure and an overweighting of magnificent 7 stocks that capitalize on AI-driven growth themes and industry tailwinds. The ETF employs a covered call strategy, generating recurring income for investors, while maintaining long positions in leading U.S. tech firms. Magnificent 7 stocks represented 42.7% of the fund's entire investments, which gives the QYLD aggressive exposure to AI growth.

I now prefer JEPQ over QYLD due to JEPQ's lower fees and its partial, rather than full, use of option overlays. With VIX volatility subdued, QYLD's 100% option overlay caps upside and reduces income potential, making it less attractive in current conditions. JEPQ has outperformed QYLD in total return (64% vs. 36%) over the past 3 years, and I expect this outperformance to continue.

Some dividend investors value high yields above high returns. These investors often look for funds and stocks that have less volatility and high cash flow.

YieldMax has a broad catalog of ETFs predicated on artificially generating high yield dividends by the use of derivatives against volatile stocks, cryptocurrencies, and various portfolio collections by industry or other criteria.

Covered call ETFs consistently underperform basic index ETFs over time due to capped upside and higher management fees. The NEOS funds (SPYI, QQQI) stand out by using call spreads, which help minimize underperformance. Single-stock covered call ETFs, like those from YieldMax, have high fees and significantly underperform their underlying stocks; I strongly recommend avoiding them.

QYLD offers high income with a balanced payout approach, but NAV erosion remains a concern over the long term. Total returns from holding QQQ and self-generating income outperform QYLD, even after accounting for withdrawals. QYLD only meaningfully outperforms QQQ during sharp market corrections, not during consolidations or bull markets.