AAUS vs QQQ
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, AAUS or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
AAUS has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. AAUS is less concentrated, with 38.0% 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 | AAUS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $500M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 354 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +11.42% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.14% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2%Best | 20.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.1%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,314 | $12,983Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 22, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 23, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.2 years).
AAUS 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 covers the 1.2 years both funds cover.
AAUS vs QQQ Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year AAUS returned +15.14% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, AAUS is up 11.42% versus a gain of 17.95% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 12.2% for AAUS. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -9.1% for AAUS and -12.0% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAUS charges 0.09% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $18 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAUS currently yields 0.33% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
54.4% of AAUS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 90.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings AAUS also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside AAUS. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
70 positions in common, counted across the 294 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 354 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 26 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for AAUS (7.1% of the fund), and 222 for AAUS that do not appear in QQQ (45.5%).
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 AAUS | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.21% | 8.44% | 0.23% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.96% | 7.27% | 0.31% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.67% | 5.76% | 0.09% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.78% | 4.67% | 0.89% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.07% | 3.36% | 0.29% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.65% | 4.43% | 2.78% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.81% | 3.16% | 0.35% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.46% | 3.13% | 0.67% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.24% | 3.45% | 2.21% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.90% | 2.78% | 0.88% |
90.4% of QQQ is already inside AAUS.
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, AAUS or QQQ?
AAUS has an expense ratio of 0.09% while QQQ charges 0.18%. AAUS is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAUS or QQQ?
Over the past year AAUS returned +15.14% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AAUS annualized +18.94% vs +24.30% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAUS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 12.2% for AAUS. Worst drawdown: AAUS -9.1% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both AAUS and QQQ?
AAUS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AAUS and QQQ?
90.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings AAUS also owns. 90.4% of QQQ's is in holdings AAUS also owns. They hold 70 positions in common, counted across the 294 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAUS or QQQ?
AAUS yields 0.33% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than AAUS?
AAUS has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. AAUS is less concentrated, with 38.0% 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.