My $9,000 May Dividend: How QQQY and MRNY Keep Paying Despite Market Chaos

Let me tell you about two dividend machines that have been absolute game-changers in my portfolio. While everyone else is panicking about market volatility, I've collected steady dividend checks from QQQY and MRNY. Last month (May 2025), these two positions alone handed me nearly $9,000 in dividend income.

Yes, you read that right. Nine thousand dollars. In one month. From just two ETFs.

If you're tired of the market rollercoaster and want to talk about dividend investing that actually works, grab your coffee and let me walk you through exactly how these two ETFs have been printing money for me month after month.

QQQY: My Weekly Payday from Big Tech

First up is QQQY (DEFIANCE NAS 100 EHD OPT 0DTE ETF), and honestly, this thing is like having a part-time job that pays you every Friday. Trading around $26 per share, QQQY pays approximately $0.19 per share weekly.

Think about that for a second. While most dividend stocks make you wait three months between payments, QQQY is dropping cash into my account 52 times a year. It's basically the Amazon Prime of dividend investing, instant gratification for income junkies like me.

The secret sauce? This ETF uses zero-days-to-expiration (0DTE) options on the NASDAQ 100. Basically, it makes money off short-term options trading while still giving you exposure to all those big tech companies we know and love.

And here's the kicker – despite all the market craziness we've seen, QQQY has kept paying like clockwork. Tech stocks up? Dividend. Tech stocks down? Still getting that dividend.

MRNY: The Biotech Cash Cow

Now let's talk about MRNY (YIELDMAX MRNA OPTN INCME STGY ETF). This little beauty trades around $2.40 per share and pays monthly dividends ranging from about $0.12 to $0.19 per share.

I love MRNY for a few reasons. First, the low share price means you can get in without breaking the bank. Second, it focuses on Moderna through a covered call strategy. Basically, it means getting paid while the fund trades options on one of the most recognizable biotech names out there.

The monthly payments aren't always the same (they have ranged between $0.12 and $0.19 over the three months I have held them). Even when Moderna's stock was riding its biotech rollercoaster, MRNY kept cutting those dividend checks.

Why These ETFs Keep Delivering

Here's what I love most about QQQY and MRNY – they've proven they can handle whatever the market throws at them. We've had inflation scares, interest rate drama, tech selloffs, biotech volatility – you name it. These ETFs have maintained their distribution schedules like absolute champions through it all.

Their options-based strategies seem to smooth out many bumps that usually crush dividend payments. Traditional dividend stocks? They'll cut their payouts faster than you can say "earnings miss." But these ETFs? They've got a different playbook entirely.

What the AI Crystal Ball Says

I'm not one to put all my faith in predictions, but I've been checking out some AI-generated market outlooks for both QQQY and MRNY, and the sentiment is bullish.

For QQQY, the AI models love the continued strength in tech and the growing demand for income strategies in volatile markets. It makes sense, people want their cake (tech exposure) and to eat it too (regular income).

For MRNY, the AI analysis points to continued strength in biotech innovation and Moderna's solid position in the pharmaceutical world. Plus, the options strategy is working exactly as designed.

The Real Numbers: My May Payday

Let me get real with you about the numbers. In May alone, my positions in QQQY and MRNY generated nearly $9,000 in dividend income, not capital gains or paper profits, but actual cash that hit my account, and which I was able to reinvest.

This wasn't some lucky month or market anomaly. This is what consistent, reliable dividend investing looks like when you find the right vehicles. Between QQQY's weekly payments and MRNY's monthly distributions, I've got cash flow coming in regularly that doesn't depend on whether the market is having a good day or a bad day.

Before You Jump In

Look, I'm no financial advisor, and I'm not saying these ETFs are right for everyone. The options strategies these funds use are complex, and high dividend yields usually mean you're trading off some potential capital appreciation or security.

With MRNY, especially, you're putting a lot of eggs in the Moderna basket, which comes with its own risks. Both of these ETFs are relatively new, so we don't have decades of track records to look at.

But here's what I can tell you from my own experience: if you're looking for consistent income that doesn't disappear every time the market has a tantrum, these ETFs have been absolute workhorses.

My Bottom Line

After watching QQQY and MRNY perform through some severe market volatility over the last few months, with Trump's tariff wars and the crisis and wars affecting the Middle East, while consistently paying dividends, I'm convinced that options-based income ETFs deserve a serious look from anyone building an income portfolio.

The $9,000 May dividend wasn't a fluke; it resulted from choosing ETFs prioritizing income generation and delivering on their promises. In a world where you can't count on much, having dividend payments you can count on is powerful.

Whether you're looking to supplement your income, build toward financial independence, or want to get paid while you wait for the market to figure itself out, QQQY and MRNY have shown they can deliver the goods.

Remember, past performance doesn't guarantee future results, but sometimes it gives you a pretty good idea of what you're dealing with. And what I'm dealing with here are two ETFs that know how to cut a dividend check, market chaos or not.

Disclaimer: This article represents my personal investment strategy as a retail investor without formal financial training or professional credentials. The views expressed are based on my own research and experience, not professional expertise. This should not be considered financial advice. All investments carry risk, and past performance doesn't guarantee future results. As a non-professional investor, I strongly recommend that you conduct your own research and consider consulting with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. What works for my situation and risk tolerance may not be appropriate for yours.