Income ETF health check
First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF
FTQI
First Trust · Monthly Payer · $1.0B AUM
Current price
$22.36
As of 10-05-2026 · USD
Canary status
No significant NAV erosion detected — distributions look sustainable at the current pace.
Updated every Monday and Thursday
YieldCanary Health Metrics
Yield comparison
Advertised Yield
11.95%
Headline Yield (TTM)
11.21%
True Income Yield
0.95%
The real number is typically lower once return of capital is stripped out.
Price and Distribution History
Data last updated: 10-05-2026. Updates every Monday and Thursday.
Health metrics
- Death Clock
- 2.19 yrs
- YieldCanary ROC %
- 91.5%
Income and return
- After-Tax Monthly (25%)
- $XX.XX
- Last Distribution
- $0.2220
- 1Y Price Return
- +8.33%
About True Income Yield
About True Income Yield: This is a YieldCanary proprietary sustainability indicator, not a standard accounting measure of economic gain. It strips return of capital from the headline yield to show only what the fund generated from real investment activity. Return of capital reduces your cost basis and the full economic gain is only realized when you sell your shares. YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not from the 19a-1 notices that fund companies publish monthly. Our estimates can differ from official issuer reports and can differ significantly from your year-end 1099 tax forms. We are actively working on incorporating 19a-1 data to make these figures more precise. For confirmed ROC figures always check the fund's official 19a-1 notice on the issuer's website or your year-end 1099.
True Income Yield and Death Clock are YieldCanary proprietary metrics. Not financial advice. Data updates every Monday and Thursday.
Sustainability analysis
Health Score Breakdown
FTQI is currently Healthy on YieldCanary. ROC is within sustainable range, the NAV has held up over the trailing 12 months, and distributions have been stable. No significant erosion risk is detected at the current pace.
See the full health score breakdown in YieldCanary.
Fund questions
Frequently Asked Questions — FTQI
Is FTQI a good income ETF?
Based on YieldCanary's health framework, FTQI is currently Healthy. No significant NAV erosion is detected at the current pace and the fund is passing all sustainability checks. The distributions appear to be generated from real investment activity rather than quiet erosion of the fund's value. This is not financial advice — always do your own research and consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What does FTQI pay per month?
Based on last month's actual distribution of $0.2220 per share, $10,000 invested in FTQI at the current price of $22.36 generates approximately 447 shares. That's $99.23 gross per month before taxes. Your after-tax income depends on your personal tax rate and account type. Set your rate inside YieldCanary to see your exact after-tax monthly income and connect your portfolio to see what all of your holdings generate together. Distributions change month to month based on options premiums and market conditions. Past distributions are not a guarantee of future payments.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is FTQI's True Income Yield?
YieldCanary's True Income Yield for FTQI is currently 0.95%. This is a distribution sustainability indicator — it strips the estimated return of capital portion from the headline TTM yield to show only what the fund generated from real investment activity. It is not an accounting measure of economic gain. Return of capital reduces your cost basis and full economic gain is only realized when you sell. FTQI's current ROC estimate is 91.5%. The full methodology breakdown is available inside YieldCanary. For confirmed ROC figures check the fund's official 19a-1 notice or your year-end 1099.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is FTQI's Death Clock?
FTQI's Death Clock is currently 2.19 years. This estimates the number of years before 50% of the fund's NAV erodes at the current pace, assuming all things stay constant. It is a sustainability warning signal. The pace can improve or worsen as market conditions and distribution behavior change. Check back every Monday and Thursday when the data refreshes.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
Is FTQI's return of capital good or bad?
FTQI's current ROC estimate is 91.5%. A high ROC without NAV stability can indicate the fund is returning your own principal as income while the underlying value declines. The Death Clock and Canary Status reflect this in FTQI's current health rating. Note: YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
How does FTQI compare to similar funds?
On YieldCanary, FTQI is currently Healthy with a 0.95% True Income Yield and a Death Clock of 2.19 years. It pays Monthly distributions and has a 1-year price return of 8.33%. Similar funds from First Trust tracked on YieldCanary: FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF (RDVI) — currently Healthy; FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF (KNG) — currently Healthy; First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) — currently Healthy Full side-by-side comparison including True Income Yield, Death Clock, ROC%, and after-tax income across all similar funds is available inside YieldCanary.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
How often does FTQI pay distributions?
FTQI is a Monthly paying ETF. Distributions are paid once per month, which aligns well with monthly bills and expenses. Monthly payers are the most popular frequency among income investors for this reason. The most recent distribution was $0.2220 per share. To see exact upcoming ex-dividend and payment dates for FTQI in your portfolio, connect your holdings inside YieldCanary and check the Distribution Calendar.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
What is FTQI's AUM and why does it matter?
FTQI currently has $1.0B in assets under management. At over $1 billion in AUM, FTQI has meaningful institutional backing and strong liquidity. Larger funds are generally more stable and less likely to close due to insufficient assets. AUM alone does not determine whether a fund is healthy. Check the Canary Status and Death Clock above for the full sustainability picture.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
Is FTQI available in a Roth IRA?
Yes — FTQI can be held in a Roth IRA like any standard ETF, assuming your brokerage offers it. For income ETFs with high return of capital, a Roth IRA can be a particularly advantageous account type. ROC distributions reduce your cost basis in a taxable account, creating a deferred tax liability that grows over time. In a Roth IRA that tax treatment is irrelevant as all distributions are tax-free regardless of their character. This is not tax advice. Consult a tax professional about your specific situation and account type before making investment decisions.
YieldCanary calculates ROC from performance data, not 19a-1 filings. Not financial advice.
About the fund
Strategy & Objective
First Trust · Monthly Payer
The Fund's primary goal is to generate a steady stream of income. It achieves this by principally investing in stocks traded on American exchanges. To further boost its income potential, the Fund employs an options strategy: it actively sells U.S. exchange-traded covered call options linked to the Nasdaq-100 Index. This approach aims to secure additional cash flow through the collection of "premiums." A premium represents the payment the Fund receives when it sells an option contract to another party, and these earnings have the potential to be distributed to shareholders each month.
At a glance
YieldCanary Health Summary
First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (FTQI) is a Monthly-paying income ETF issued by First Trust with $1.0B in assets under management. The fund has an advertised yield of 11.95% and a trailing 12-month headline yield of 11.21%. FTQI is currently Healthy on YieldCanary with a True Income Yield of 0.95% and a Death Clock of 2.19 years. The fund's current ROC estimate is 91.5% which warrants monitoring alongside the Canary Status. The most recent distribution was $0.2220 per share. The fund's price has returned +8.33% over the trailing 12 months.
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