At a glance
QYLG charges 0.35% a year, below the 0.57% average of the 8 funds most like it (the 3rd cheapest of 9). It has $158.3M in assets, the 5th largest of that group; it paid 16.85% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, monthly. Over the past year it returned +17.3% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 2nd of those 9 funds; over three years it returned +23.1% a year. At its worst it fell 29.6% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 14 months after the low. Its ten largest positions make up 46.8% of the fund, out of 103 in all.
The short version
Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call & Growth ETF (QYLG) owns the stocks in the Nasdaq-100 and sells call options on about half of the portfolio. It tracks the Cboe Nasdaq-100 Half BuyWrite V2 Index. Covering only half trades some upside for monthly option income but keeps more growth potential than a fully covered fund. Its 0.35% expense ratio is below the 0.57% average of similar Nasdaq-100 options funds.
Price history
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QYLG +17.3% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QYLG official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +15.38% | — | +11.25% | — | +13.58% |
| QYLG price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +16.7% | +17.3% | +23.1% | +11.5% | — | +12.4% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, QYLG returned +17.3%, 2nd of 9 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +11.5%.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-26.3%); its best was 2023 (+38.6%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 30% (Dec 27, 2021 to Oct 14, 2022), recovered by Dec 19, 2023.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +16.7% | — |
| 2025 | +15.3% | +15.38% |
| 2024 | +22.3% | +22.31% |
| 2023 | +38.6% | +38.16% |
| 2022 | -26.3% | -26.25% |
| 2021 | — | +18.54% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Before this security existed |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 29.4% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 29.6%, back to its old high 14.2 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $1.8100 | |
| 2025 | $4.9000 | -31.1% |
| 2024 | $7.1100 | +358.7% |
| 2023 | $1.5500 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $1.5200 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 103 securities; the ten largest made up 46.83% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA CORPORATION | 8.13% | |
| APPLE INC. | 7.59% | |
| MICROSOFT CORPORATION | 5.78% | |
| AMAZON.COM, INC. | 4.89% | |
| MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC. | 4.29% | |
| ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC. | 3.59% | |
| ALPHABET INC. | 3.47% | |
| ALPHABET INC. | 3.26% | |
| BROADCOM INC. | 3.09% | |
| META PLATFORMS, INC. | 2.76% | |
| TESLA, INC. | 2.60% | |
| WALMART INC. | 2.50% | |
| CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. | 2.11% | |
| INTEL CORPORATION | 2.09% | |
| COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION | 1.95% |
By country
United States 100.78%By asset type
Stocks 100.78%By sector
Sectors of the companies held, for the 90.5% of the fund in companies that have a stock page here; other holdings and cash aren't classified. Source: N-PORT holdings report as of Jul 31, 2026. Cash, money-market funds and derivatives are shown separately from the securities list.What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors added a net $17.1M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -4.76%, +1.35%, +6.10%.
How it works
QYLG tracks the Cboe Nasdaq-100 Half BuyWrite V2 Index, which is sponsored by Nasdaq, Inc. The fund buys the stocks of the Nasdaq-100: the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Each stock is weighted mainly by company size, with caps on how large any single stock can get. Global X generally holds every stock in the index in about the same proportions as the index. As of July 31, 2026, the fund held 103 stocks. The 10 largest made up about 47% of assets, led by NVIDIA (8.1%), Apple (7.6%) and Microsoft (5.8%).
Each month, the fund sells ("writes") one-month call options on the Nasdaq-100 Index covering about 50% of the portfolio's value. A call option pays its buyer any rise in the index above a set level, called the strike price. In return, the fund collects cash upfront, called a premium. The strike is set at or slightly above the index's level at the time. The options trade on an exchange and settle in cash. Each one is closed out the day before it expires and then replaced.
On the covered half, the fund gives up gains above the strike but keeps the premium. The other half moves fully with the index. The premiums soften declines only slightly, and in a fast rally the fund is expected to lag the Nasdaq-100.
What it really costs
- QYLG charges 0.35% a year, versus an average of 0.57% for the similar funds below (3rd of 9, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $36 in the first year and $443 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QYLG | $36 | $113 | $197 | $443 |
Structure and tax notes
- Generates much of its income from selling options (directly or through notes). That income is usually taxed as ordinary income rather than as qualified dividends, and the strategy gives up some upside in strong markets.
In a retirement portfolio
It pairs a concentrated, tech-heavy stock portfolio with an options overlay, so it has stock-market risk while paying a high, variable monthly income.
QYLG could add Nasdaq-100 growth plus a monthly payout. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, its payouts equaled about 16.85% of the share price. Option income rises and falls with market swings, though, and is usually taxed as ordinary income. The fund launched in September 2020, so it has no record from the 2008 crisis or the 2020 COVID crash. Its deepest drop was about 30%, from December 2021 to October 2022. It took about 14 months to recover, in December 2023. Its worst calendar year was 2022, at -26.25%. Selling shares or drawing income during a drop like that could lock in losses. Costs are modest: $36 in the first year and $443 over 10 years on $10,000, in the SEC's standard example. Past results don't predict future returns, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want Nasdaq-100 stocks plus monthly income and will accept giving up some upside on about half the portfolio.
- Cost-conscious buyers of options-income funds: its 0.35% expense ratio is below the 0.57% peer average and QYLD's 0.60%.
- People holding it in tax-advantaged accounts such as IRAs, where option income being taxed as ordinary income matters less.
Look elsewhere if
- Those seeking the Nasdaq-100's full gains: the options overlay is expected to make the fund lag in rapid rallies.
- Investors who need downside protection: it fell about 30% from December 2021 to October 2022 and took about 14 months to recover.
- Anyone wanting broad diversification: as of July 31, 2026, technology was 52.5% of the fund, and NVIDIA, Apple and Microsoft together were over 21%.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QYLG this fund | — | 0.35% | $158.3M | +17.3% | +23.1% |
| QYLD Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF | 101% | 0.6% | $8.09B | +18.9% | +17.4% |
| QRMI Global X NASDAQ 100 Risk Managed Income ETF | 100% | 0.6% | $14.3M | +5.1% | +9.2% |
| QCLR Global X NASDAQ 100 Collar 95-110 ETF | 96% | 0.25% | $3.3M | -0.6% | +15.2% |
| QHDG Innovator Hedged Nasdaq-100 ETF | 94% | 0.79% | $3.0M | +1.1% | — |
| QQQI NEOS Nasdaq 100 High Income ETF | 92% | 0.68% | $13.11B | +5.8% | — |
| QQQH NEOS Nasdaq 100 Hedged Equity Income ETF | 92% | 0.68% | $389.0M | +7.4% | — |
| SEPQ STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF | 90% | 0.65% | $80.1M | +14.2% | +24.1% |
Questions investors ask
Does QYLG pay monthly dividends?
Yes, QYLG pays monthly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $5.03 per share, about 16.85% of its share price. The amounts vary because they depend on option premiums, which rise and fall with market volatility. Much of the income comes from selling options, so it is usually taxed as ordinary income rather than as qualified dividends.
What's the difference between QYLG and QYLD?
Both are Global X funds that hold Nasdaq-100 stocks. QYLD sells call options on the whole portfolio, while QYLG covers only about half, so it keeps more upside. QYLG costs 0.35% a year and QYLD costs 0.60%. Through October 27, 2026, QYLD returned 18.9% over one year and QYLG returned 17.3%. Over three years, QYLG averaged 23.1% a year and QYLD averaged 17.4%. QYLD is far larger, at about $8.1 billion versus $158 million as of July 31, 2026.
Is QYLG good for retirement income?
It can provide monthly income, but it carries full stock-market risk. Its payouts vary from month to month. From December 2021 to October 2022 it fell about 30%, and it took about 14 months to recover. As of July 31, 2026, technology made up 52.5% of the fund. Someone drawing income from it in a downturn could end up selling shares at low prices. It may suit investors who treat it as one part of a broader mix.
What is QYLG's expense ratio?
QYLG's expense ratio is 0.35%, according to its prospectus filed February 26, 2026. That is below the 0.57% average of similar Nasdaq-100 options funds, though GPIQ is cheaper at 0.29%. In the SEC's standard example ($10,000 invested, a 5% yearly return, shares sold at the end), costs would total $36 after one year, $113 after three, $197 after five and $443 after ten.
How has QYLG performed since it launched?
As of December 31, 2025, QYLG returned 15.38% over one year and averaged 11.25% a year over five years. It has averaged 13.58% a year since its September 2020 launch. Calendar-year results ranged from -26.25% in 2022 to 38.16% in 2023, with 22.31% in 2024 and 15.38% in 2025. For 2026, it was up 16.68% year to date through October 27, 2026.