PortfoliosLab logoPortfoliosLab logo

Documentation

Upgrade your plan
QTOP vs. FTQI
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

QTOP vs. FTQI

Last updated Aug 2, 2026
Documentation

QTOP (iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF) and FTQI (First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF) are both Nasdaq-100 funds - QTOP tracks the Nasdaq-100 Top 30 Index while FTQI tracks the NASDAQ-100 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, QTOP returned 26.03% vs 23.81% for FTQI. Their correlation of 0.90 means they have usually moved in the same direction. QTOP charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for FTQI.

Performance

QTOP vs. FTQI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF (QTOP) and First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (FTQI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Loading charts...

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QTOP achieves a 12.29% return, which is significantly higher than FTQI's 11.44% return.

QTOP

1D
0.76%
1M
-3.71%
6M
10.80%
YTD
12.29%
1Y
26.03%
3Y*
—
5Y*
—
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
23.79%

FTQI

1D
0.46%
1M
-0.27%
6M
10.16%
YTD
11.44%
1Y
23.81%
3Y*
15.86%
5Y*
11.76%
10Y*
7.96%
ALL TIME*
6.96%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

FTQI

First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF
$11.90M$8.88M$6.02M

QTOP

iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF
$6.40M$5.80M$7.08M

QTOP vs. FTQI - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)20252024
QTOP
iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF		12.29%22.19%6.25%
FTQI
First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF		11.44%12.68%4.11%

Correlation

The correlation between QTOP and FTQI is 0.91, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.91

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 24, 2024

0.90

The correlation between QTOP and FTQI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.91 - a consistent structural relationship.

QTOP vs. FTQI - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
QTOP
FTQI

Technology

67.0%
47.4%

Communication Services

15.2%
8.5%

Consumer Cyclical

9.1%
11.6%

Consumer Defensive

7.2%
7.4%

Healthcare

2.9%
7.6%

Basic Materials

1.5%
1.1%

Industrials

0.9%
6.3%

Energy

-

2.2%

Financial Services

-

5.2%

Real Estate

-

1.1%

Utilities

-

1.5%

Technology

QTOP
67.0%
FTQI
47.4%

Communication Services

QTOP
15.2%
FTQI
8.5%

Consumer Cyclical

QTOP
9.1%
FTQI
11.6%

Consumer Defensive

QTOP
7.2%
FTQI
7.4%

Healthcare

QTOP
2.9%
FTQI
7.6%

Basic Materials

QTOP
1.5%
FTQI
1.1%

Industrials

QTOP
0.9%
FTQI
6.3%

Energy

QTOP

-

FTQI
2.2%

Financial Services

QTOP

-

FTQI
5.2%

Real Estate

QTOP

-

FTQI
1.1%

Utilities

QTOP

-

FTQI
1.5%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF

First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF

Often compared with QTOP:
QTOP vs. QQQQTOP vs. TOPTQTOP vs. QQQMQTOP vs. MAGSQTOP vs. QBIGQTOP vs. VGTQTOP vs. XLK
Often compared with FTQI:
FTQI vs. FTHIFTQI vs. JEPQFTQI vs. QYLDFTQI vs. QQQIFTQI vs. TUGNFTQI vs. SPYIFTQI vs. SPY

Return for Risk

QTOP vs. FTQI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
QTOP
QTOP Risk / Return Rank: 4646
Overall Rank
QTOP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4444
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QTOP Sortino Ratio Rank: 4343
Sortino Ratio Rank
QTOP Omega Ratio Rank: 4242
Omega Ratio Rank
QTOP Calmar Ratio Rank: 5050
Calmar Ratio Rank
QTOP Martin Ratio Rank: 4949
Martin Ratio Rank
FTQI
FTQI Risk / Return Rank: 8888
Overall Rank
FTQI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8686
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FTQI Sortino Ratio Rank: 8686
Sortino Ratio Rank
FTQI Omega Ratio Rank: 8585
Omega Ratio Rank
FTQI Calmar Ratio Rank: 8989
Calmar Ratio Rank
FTQI Martin Ratio Rank: 9292
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

QTOP vs. FTQI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF (QTOP) and First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (FTQI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

QTOPFTQIDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.09
2.02

-0.92

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.58
2.84

-1.26

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.20

1.37

-0.17

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.79

3.63

-1.84

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

5.58

16.41

-10.82

QTOP vs. FTQI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QTOP Sharpe Ratio is 1.09, which is lower than the FTQI Sharpe Ratio of 2.02. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QTOP and FTQI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Loading charts...

Drawdowns

QTOP vs. FTQI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QTOP drawdown since its inception was -23.28%, which is greater than FTQI's maximum drawdown of -19.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QTOP and FTQI.

Loading charts...

Drawdown Indicators

QTOPFTQIDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-23.28%

-19.42%

-3.86%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-13.02%

-6.24%

-6.78%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

—

-19.42%

—

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

—

-19.42%

—

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-19.42%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-8.69%

-2.01%

-6.68%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.93%

-3.72%

-0.21%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

4.18%

1.38%

+2.80%

Volatility

QTOP vs. FTQI - Volatility Comparison

iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF (QTOP) has a higher volatility of 8.33% compared to First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (FTQI) at 3.63%. This indicates that QTOP's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FTQI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Loading charts...

Volatility by Period

QTOPFTQIDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

8.33%

3.63%

+4.70%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

18.01%

9.09%

+8.92%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

21.39%

11.24%

+10.15%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

23.79%

14.79%

+9.00%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

23.79%

12.93%

+10.86%

QTOP vs. FTQI - Expense Ratio Comparison

QTOP has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is lower than FTQI's 0.75% expense ratio.

Dividends

QTOP vs. FTQI - Dividend Comparison

QTOP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.35%, less than FTQI's 11.28% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
FTQI
First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF		11.28%11.46%11.66%11.49%9.85%3.05%3.27%2.95%3.27%2.74%3.02%3.54%
QTOP
iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF		0.35%0.38%0.11%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.91, QTOP and FTQI move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

QTOP has higher volatility (8.33%) compared to FTQI (3.63%). In terms of maximum drawdown, QTOP dropped -23.28% vs FTQI's -19.42%.

On 1-year performance, QTOP leads with 26.03% vs 23.81% for FTQI. On fees, QTOP is cheaper at 0.20% per year. On volatility, FTQI has been the lower-risk option at 3.63%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 1-year period, QTOP has performed better with a 26.03% return vs 23.81%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

QTOP is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for FTQI.

FTQI has the higher dividend yield at 11.28%, compared with 0.35% for QTOP.

QTOP tracks Nasdaq-100 Top 30 Index, while FTQI tracks NASDAQ-100 Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for QTOP and 0.75% for FTQI.

FTQI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.02 vs 1.09), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

Portfolio Optimizer

Find the right allocation for QTOP and FTQI

Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.

Open Portfolio Optimizer