# JEPQ Lags Nasdaq-100 by $17,970

> JEPQ's monthly income strategy costs retirees $17,970 over a year versus Nasdaq-100.
- Title: JEPQ Lags Nasdaq-100 by $17,970 · 24/7 Wall St. | Shortify
- Summary: JEPQ's monthly income strategy costs retirees $17,970 over a year versus Nasdaq-100. Retirees investing $300,000 in JEPQ lose $17,970 annually versus…
- Keywords: jepq, nasdaq-100, covered calls, retirees, investment strategy, etf, nasdaq, investing, Lags, 970, 24/7 Wall St.
- Source: 24/7 Wall St. — https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/10/07/jepq-trailed-the-nasdaq-100-by-17970-on-300000-over-one-year-the-covered-calls-are-why
- Author: Ryne Mauck
- Published: 2026-10-07T22:33:16+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jepq, nasdaq-100, covered calls, retirees, investment strategy, etf, nasdaq, investing
## Retirees' $300,000 Investment
A retiree invested $300,000 in JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ) a year ago.
## JEPQ's Total Value After Year
JEPQ's value grew to $359,160 including all monthly distributions.
## Nasdaq-100 Index Fund Growth
The Nasdaq-100 index fund (QQQM) grew to $377,130 on the same investment.
## The $17,970 Gap
JEPQ trailed the Nasdaq-100 by $17,970 over one year due to covered calls.
## Why the Gap Exists
JEPQ sells part of its Nasdaq-100 upside to generate monthly income, costing growth.
## Market Impact of Strategy
In a rising market, JEPQ lags the index by 5.99 percentage points annually.
## What Retirees Should Do
Retirees should compare JEPQ against QQQM on a dividend-adjusted basis before investing.
## Key takeaway

Retirees investing $300,000 in JEPQ lose $17,970 annually versus Nasdaq-100 due to covered calls.