What if I told you that three ETFs priced between $26 and $56 could deliver wildly different results from the same $10,000 investment?
-
One pays you $388 a year
-
Another pays $832
-
The third? A massive $1,064 annually
That’s almost 3x the income — from funds that look similar on the surface.
But here’s the twist 👇
One charges 6x higher fees,
one is down for the year,
and one is up more than 20%.
So… which dividend ETF actually wins?
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly which ETF fits your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance — whether you’re a long-term investor, a retiree chasing income, or someone bullish on tech and AI.
Meet the Contenders 🥊
🏛️ SCHD — The Old-School Dividend King
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
-
14+ years of history
-
Nearly $70 billion in assets
-
Holds 103 high-quality dividend stocks
-
Expense ratio: just 0.06% (ridiculously cheap)
Think Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Amgen, Cisco, Merck — companies your parents trust and your grandparents would proudly own.
SCHD follows a simple philosophy:
Buy profitable companies that consistently grow dividends. Hold forever.
No options. No leverage. No fancy tricks.
You get quarterly dividends, taxed as qualified dividends (lower tax rate in taxable accounts). Boring? Maybe. Reliable? Absolutely.
🛡️ JEPI — The Monthly Income Machine
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF
JEPI doesn’t just own stocks — it sells covered calls to generate income.
In simple terms:
You collect “insurance premiums” from options buyers every month.
-
Pays monthly income
-
Lower volatility (beta ≈ 0.57)
-
Over 125 holdings, ultra-diversified
-
Designed to protect capital during market turbulence
For every $10,000 invested:
👉 ~$69 per month, like clockwork
JEPI is built for people who want to sleep well at night while collecting steady cash flow.
🚀 JEPQ — The High-Octane Income Rocket
JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF
Same strategy as JEPI — but focused on the Nasdaq-100.
That means:
-
Heavy exposure to Big Tech & AI
-
Nvidia (~9%), Apple (~7%), Microsoft (~7%)
-
Nearly 47% tech concentration
The reward?
-
Yield around 10.6%
-
~$89 per month per $10,000 invested
-
Nearly 21% price return over the past year
The risk?
-
Higher volatility
-
Bigger drawdowns during tech sell-offs
This fund doesn’t apologize for being aggressive.
The Income Reality Check 💸
Let’s get brutally honest.
$10,000 Investment:
-
SCHD → ~$388/year (~$32/month)
-
JEPI → ~$832/year (~$69/month)
-
JEPQ → ~$1,064/year (~$89/month)
Now scale it up.
$500,000 Portfolio:
-
SCHD → ~$1,617/month
-
JEPI → ~$3,467/month
-
JEPQ → ~$4,433/month
That’s the difference between:
-
“Supplementing income”
vs -
“Actually living comfortably”
Growth & Performance 📈
-
SCHD: Slow, steady dividend growth (~5–6%)
-
JEPI: Faster income growth (~11%)
-
JEPQ: Highest growth (~12%+) during volatile tech markets
Over shorter periods, JEPQ dominates when tech is hot.
Over longer cycles, SCHD quietly shines.
JEPI wins when markets go sideways or turn ugly.
Different markets. Different winners.
The Tax Plot Twist ⚠️
Here’s what many people miss:
-
SCHD dividends → usually qualified dividends (lower tax)
-
JEPI & JEPQ income → taxed as ordinary income
If you’re in a high tax bracket, that matters.
BUT…
💡 Hold them in a tax-advantaged account (IRA / 401k)
→ Tax difference disappears
→ JEPI & JEPQ suddenly become much more attractive
So… Which ETF Actually Wins? 🏆
There is no single winner.
✅ Choose SCHD if:
-
You invest in taxable accounts
-
You want long-term dividend growth
-
You value ultra-low fees
-
You believe slow and steady wins
👉 You’re a patient wealth builder
✅ Choose JEPI if:
-
You need monthly income now
-
You want lower volatility
-
You hate market crashes
-
You invest via IRA / 401k
👉 You’re a defensive income investor
✅ Choose JEPQ if:
-
You’re bullish on Big Tech & AI
-
You can handle volatility
-
You want maximum income
-
You’re investing long-term or tax-advantaged
👉 You’re an aggressive income seeker
What Smart Investors Actually Do 🧠
They don’t choose just one.
Many combine:
-
JEPI as the core
-
SCHD for tax-efficient growth
-
JEPQ for income acceleration
Balanced. Flexible. Powerful.
Ready to Invest? Start with moomoo 📲
If you want to buy SCHD, JEPI, or JEPQ easily with powerful charts, low fees, and professional-grade tools, moomoo is a great place to start.
👉 Open your moomoo account here
🔗 https://j.moomoo.com/0xFRE4
Whether you’re building passive income or planning retirement, the right ETF — on the right platform — makes all the difference.
💬 Comment below: Which ETF fits your strategy — and why?
🔔 Follow for more investing breakdowns that actually make sense.
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and not financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial adviser.
