AAUB vs QQQ
Alpha Architect US Equity 4 ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, AAUB or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
AAUB has a lower expense ratio. AAUB is less concentrated, with 33.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AAUB | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.10%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $850M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 1,408 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +3.43% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +25.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.18% |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.8%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 23, 2026 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AAUB vs QQQ growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AAUB vs QQQ Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity 4 ETF (AAUB) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Year to date, AAUB is up 3.43% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAUB charges 0.10% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $10 vs $18 annually, a gap of $8 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAUB currently yields 0.00% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
42.4% of AAUB's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 97.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings AAUB also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside AAUB. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
95 positions in common, counted across the 1,404 positions we hold weights for in AAUB and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1,408 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for AAUB (2.0% of the fund), and 750 for AAUB that do not appear in QQQ (51.2%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AAUB | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.78% | 8.44% | 1.66% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.27% | 7.27% | 1.00% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.31% | 5.76% | 2.45% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.94% | 4.67% | 1.73% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.06% | 3.16% | 0.10% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 2.82% | 3.36% | 0.54% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.10% | 4.43% | 3.33% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.07% | 3.45% | 1.38% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.66% | 2.78% | 1.12% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.22% | 3.13% | 1.91% |
97.1% of QQQ is already inside AAUB.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAUB or QQQ?
AAUB has an expense ratio of 0.10% while QQQ charges 0.18%. AAUB is the cheaper option, by $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AAUB and QQQ?
97.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings AAUB also owns. 97.1% of QQQ's is in holdings AAUB also owns. They hold 95 positions in common, counted across the 1,404 positions we hold weights for in AAUB and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAUB or QQQ?
AAUB yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than AAUB?
AAUB has a lower expense ratio. AAUB is less concentrated, with 33.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.