ACES vs QQQ
ALPS Clean Energy ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ACES or QQQ?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.0%.
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 | ACES | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $110M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.73% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 38 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -10.64% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.16% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -9.27% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -14.90% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 35.1% | 20.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -79.0% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $4,463 | $19,407Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.0% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 27, 2018 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (8.2 years).
ACES 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 8.2 years both funds cover.
ACES vs QQQ Performance
ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year ACES returned +5.16% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, ACES is down 10.64% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, ACES compounded at -9.27% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -14.90% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.60% annualized vs +2.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ACES has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 35.1% compared with 20.4% for QQQ. 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 -79.0% for ACES and -35.1% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACES charges 0.55% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $18 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACES currently yields 0.73% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
5.3% of ACES's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings ACES also owns.
ACES and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in ACES and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 38 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ACES (95.0% of the fund), and 32 for ACES that do not appear in QQQ (83.1%).
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 ACES | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 5.30% | 2.56% | 2.74% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ACES and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ACES or QQQ?
ACES has an expense ratio of 0.55% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACES or QQQ?
Over the past year ACES returned +5.16% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ACES annualized +2.84% vs +19.60% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACES or QQQ?
ACES has been the more volatile fund at 35.1% annualized versus 20.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: ACES -79.0% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both ACES and QQQ?
ACES and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ACES and QQQ?
5.3% of ACES's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.6% of QQQ's is in holdings ACES also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in ACES and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACES or QQQ?
ACES yields 0.73% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so ACES currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ACES?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.