Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD) Performance
QYLD total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +13.1% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +18.0% total return
- 5 years
- +8.2% a year
- 10 years
- +9.7% a year
- Since first price
- +8.8% a year since 2013
QYLD trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | QYLD total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −1.3% | −2.3% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +5.6% | +2.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +8.2% | +1.9% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +13.1% | +2.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +18.0% | +4.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +57.0%+16.2%/yr | +8.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +48.4%+8.2%/yr | −20.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +153.2%+9.7%/yr | −19.2% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionDec 12, 2013 | +196.8%+8.8%/yr | −27.8% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: QYLD vs SPY
From Dec 12, 2013: QYLD grew to $29,685, SPY to $53,077.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
QYLD returns by calendar year
10 of 12 full years positive. Best 2023 (+22.8%), worst 2022 (−19.1%). 2026 is year to date.
QYLD annual returns table
| Year | QYLD | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +13.1% | −5.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +9.3% | −19.1% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +19.4% | −7.8% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +22.8% | −6.9% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −19.1% | −24.4% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +10.4% | −7.7% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +8.7% | −24.8% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +22.7% | −7.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −3.1% | −19.0% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +18.8% | −2.0% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +4.8% | −9.5% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +7.2% | −11.0% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +4.3% | −7.7% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
QYLD largest drawdowns
Now 2.5% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2020 | −24.8% | Mar 16, 2020 | Nov 5, 2020 | 25 days | 9 months |
| Dec 8, 2021 | −24.6% | Oct 14, 2022 | Jan 19, 2024 | 10 months | 2.1 years |
| Feb 20, 2025 | −19.1% | Apr 8, 2025 | Oct 20, 2025 | 47 days | 8 months |
| Oct 3, 2018 | −19.0% | Dec 24, 2018 | Jul 10, 2019 | 3 months | 9 months |
| Dec 29, 2015 | −11.2% | Feb 8, 2016 | Sep 15, 2016 | 41 days | 9 months |
| Jul 20, 2015 | −11.0% | Aug 25, 2015 | Oct 23, 2015 | 36 days | 3 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
QYLD risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +16.8% | +9.3% | +10.0% | +8.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.8% | 11.7% | 11.4% | 11.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.49 | 0.52 | 0.70 | 0.67 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.39 | 0.74 | 1.00 | 0.96 |
| Best month | +5.9% | +7.2% | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Worst month | −6.4% | −7.3% | −9.0% | −9.0% |
| Best 12 months | +24.6% | +24.6% | +32.1% | +32.1% |
| Worst 12 months | +5.4% | −19.2% | −19.2% | −19.2% |
| Positive months | 81% | 68% | 73% | 71% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.45 | 0.61 | 0.64 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.72 | 0.82 | 0.86 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
QYLD rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 143 | −19.2% | +9.2% | +32.1% | 87% |
| 3-year (a year) | 119 | −1.0% | +8.5% | +17.0% | 98% |
| 5-year (a year) | 95 | +2.9% | +7.7% | +12.0% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 35 | +7.0% | +8.4% | +10.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2013. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
QYLD performance overview
Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD) returned +18.0% over the past year and +9.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2013 it has returned +8.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $29,685. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −24.8%, from Feb 20, 2020 to Mar 16, 2020, and it took 8 months to get back to the old high. QYLD finished 10 of its 12 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2023 (+22.8%) and the worst 2022 (−19.1%). Volatility has been 11.0% a year.
Related: QYLD chart, QYLD holdings, QYLD dividends, QYLD valuation. See the QYLD overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
QYLD performance FAQ
What is the QYLD return over the past year?
QYLD returned +18.0% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 4.6%.
What is the average annual return of QYLD?
QYLD has returned +8.2% a year over 5 years, +9.7% a year over 10 years, +8.8% a year since December 12, 2013 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in QYLD be worth?
$10,000 invested in QYLD at its first recorded close on December 12, 2013 would be worth about $29,685 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for QYLD?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −19.1%. The best was 2023 at +22.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of QYLD?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −24.8% between February 20, 2020 and March 16, 2020. It recovered to the old high on November 5, 2020, 8 months after the bottom.
How volatile is QYLD?
Over the past 3 years QYLD had an annualized volatility of 7.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.49 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).