IQQQ vs QQQY: Income Fund Comparison
ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF - US (IQQQ) and Defiance Nasdaq 100 Weekly Distribution ETF - US (QQQY) are both income-focused funds. Below is our independent side-by-side review using the Dependable Income Investing 13-factor scoring system — designed specifically for income investors seeking reliable, sustainable distributions.
Also see: IQQQ individual review · QQQY individual review
IQQQ: Expense ratio is 0.55% as listed on the fund product page snapshot dated 8/14/2026. QQQY: Expense ratio 1.01% - data as of 02/27/2026 IQQQ fund inception was 3/18/2024; as of the 8/15/2026 review date the fund is about 2.4 years old which rounds up to 3 years. QQQY fund inception 09/13/23 Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.
| IQQQ | QQQY | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF - US | Defiance Nasdaq 100 Weekly Distribution ETF - US |
| Fund Type | Index Based Fund | Index Based Fund |
| Exchange | NYSE/NASDAQ | NYSE/NASDAQ |
| Last Reviewed | Aug 16, 2026 | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: IQQQ vs QQQY 20% of overall score
Fund Attributes cover the foundational characteristics of each fund: cost, company backing, track record, and size. These factors reflect stability and cost-efficiency for long-term income investors.
Expense ratio is 0.55% as listed on the fund product page snapshot dated 8/14/2026.
Expense ratio 1.01% - data as of 02/27/2026
ProShares states on its homepage that it offers one of the largest ETF lineups with over $105 billion in assets.
Defiance AUM passed $8B as of 26 January 2026
Fund inception was 3/18/2024; as of the 8/15/2026 review date the fund is about 2.4 years old which rounds up to 3 years.
Fund inception 09/13/23
Net assets are about $414.9 million per the fund product page snapshot dated 8/14/2026.
Net assets $178.60M as of 02/27/2026
Risk: IQQQ vs QQQY 35% of overall score
Risk factors evaluate how each fund manages volatility, diversification, and the nature of its underlying assets — critical considerations for income investors who prioritise capital preservation.
Beta vs SPY is 1.13 over the fund's available price history (2024-03-28 to 2026-08-15) - moderate market sensitivity. Standalone volatility from the price series is 18.27% annualized (weekly total returns) - low-to-moderate choppiness. Beta score (3) and standalone volatility score (4) are within 1 point so the beta score is used as the final rating per the combination rule.
Beta 0.874 vs SPY - weekly - 2023-09-22 to 2026-03-02 - standalone volatility ~14.48% annualized (weekly returns) - beta score used as primary driver.
See the full Risk analysis for both IQQQ and QQQY — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: IQQQ vs QQQY 45% of overall score
Return factors assess income generation quality: current yield, distribution consistency, price history, and payment frequency. This is the most heavily weighted category for income investors.
The fund's distribution history table shows one payment per month for each of the last 7 consecutive months (February through August 2026) confirming a monthly cadence.
Distribution frequency weekly - payable as of 02/27/2026
See the full Return analysis for both IQQQ and QQQY — yield ratings, distribution consistency scores, and capital history.
View Plans →Our Review Methodology
Every fund reviewed on Dependable Income Investing is scored using our 13-factor Fund Report Card, organised into three weighted categories: Fund Attributes (20%), Risk (35%), and Return (45%). Each criterion is rated 1–5 by our analysts based on publicly available fund data.
We also calculate a Dependability Score — a weighted composite of six income-specific factors ranked by importance for retirement income investors: Yield Stability, Yield, Volatility, Capital History, Fund Risk, and Underlying Assets. This score answers the question income investors care about most: can I depend on this fund to pay me reliably?
Full scores, ratings, and analyst notes for both IQQQ and QQQY are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: IQQQ vs QQQY
Which has a lower expense ratio, IQQQ or QQQY?
IQQQ: Expense ratio is 0.55% as listed on the fund product page snapshot dated 8/14/2026.
QQQY: Expense ratio 1.01% - data as of 02/27/2026
Which fund has more assets under management, IQQQ or QQQY?
IQQQ: Net assets are about $414.9 million per the fund product page snapshot dated 8/14/2026.
QQQY: Net assets $178.60M as of 02/27/2026
Which fund has been trading longer, IQQQ or QQQY?
IQQQ: Fund inception was 3/18/2024; as of the 8/15/2026 review date the fund is about 2.4 years old which rounds up to 3 years.
QQQY: Fund inception 09/13/23
Who manages IQQQ vs QQQY?
IQQQ: ProShares states on its homepage that it offers one of the largest ETF lineups with over $105 billion in assets.
QQQY: Defiance AUM passed $8B as of 26 January 2026
Where can I see the full IQQQ vs QQQY comparison with scores?
The complete side-by-side comparison — including all Risk and Return scores, analyst notes, Overall Score, and Dependability Score for both funds — is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
What is the difference between IQQQ and QQQY?
ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 0.55% as listed on the fund product page snapshot dated 8/14/2026. Defiance Nasdaq 100 Weekly Distribution ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio 1.01% - data as of 02/27/2026. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Which is better for income investors, IQQQ or QQQY?
IQQQ: Expense ratio is 0.55% as listed on the fund product page snapshot dated 8/14/2026. Fund inception was 3/18/2024; as of the 8/15/2026 review date the fund is about 2.4 years old which rounds up to 3 years. QQQY: Expense ratio 1.01% - data as of 02/27/2026. Fund inception 09/13/23. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Do IQQQ and QQQY pay monthly distributions?
IQQQ: The fund's distribution history table shows one payment per month for each of the last 7 consecutive months (February through August 2026) confirming a monthly cadence. QQQY: Distribution frequency weekly - payable as of 02/27/2026. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See the Full IQQQ vs QQQY Comparison
The Dependable Income Investing app gives you the complete picture: all 13 scoring factors for both funds, Risk and Return analyst notes, Dependability Scores, and tools to compare any income fund side by side.
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