ADME vs GQGU
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF vs GQG US Equity ETF
Which is better, ADME or GQGU?
ADME has been ahead.
GQGU has a lower expense ratio. ADME led over 1Y and the full window. ADME is less concentrated, with 40.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%.
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 | ADME | GQGU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.49%Best |
| AUM | $299M | $506M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.36% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 345 | 72 |
| YTD Return | +8.96%Best | -2.98% |
| 1Y Return | +7.90%Best | -2.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.19% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.28% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.5%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.5%Best | -18.4% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $11,535Best | $9,592 |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.6%Best | 49.4% |
| Fund Family | Aptus ETFs | GQG Partners LLC |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 8, 2016 | Jul 31, 2019 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.3 years).
ADME vs GQGU 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
ADME vs GQGU Performance
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF (ADME) is an ETF from Aptus ETFs and GQG US Equity ETF (GQGU) is an ETF from GQG Partners LLC. Over the past year ADME returned +7.90% while GQGU returned -2.84%. Year to date, ADME is up 8.96% versus a loss of 2.98% for GQGU.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GQGU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 10.5% for ADME. 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 -7.5% for ADME and -18.4% for GQGU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.02. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ADME charges 0.79% per year while GQGU charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $49 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ADME currently yields 0.36% against 1.00% for GQGU.
Holdings Overlap
8.3% of ADME's money is in holdings GQGU also owns. 46.6% of GQGU's money is in holdings ADME also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
15 positions in common, counted across the 166 positions we hold weights for in ADME and 33 in GQGU, against full books of 345 and 72.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 17 positions for GQGU that do not appear in our book for ADME (45.8% of the fund), and 151 for ADME that do not appear in GQGU (90.7%).
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 ADME | Weight in GQGU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxonmobil Corp. | 1.59% | 6.46% | 4.87% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.68% | 6.20% | 5.52% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.30% | 5.31% | 5.01% |
| PGRProgressive Corporation | 0.69% | 4.08% | 3.39% |
| CICigna Corp. | 0.12% | 4.34% | 4.22% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.66% | 3.33% | 2.67% |
| PEPPepsico Inc | 0.41% | 2.79% | 2.38% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.92% | 1.84% | 0.92% |
| CVSCvs Health Corp | 0.18% | 2.53% | 2.35% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.69% | 1.92% | 1.23% |
46.6% of GQGU is already inside ADME.
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, ADME or GQGU?
ADME has an expense ratio of 0.79% while GQGU charges 0.49%. GQGU is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ADME or GQGU?
Over the past year ADME returned +7.90% vs -2.84% for GQGU, so ADME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ADME annualized +11.61% vs -3.15% for GQGU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ADME or GQGU?
GQGU has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 10.5% for ADME. Worst drawdown: ADME -7.5% vs GQGU -18.4%.
Should I hold both ADME and GQGU?
ADME and GQGU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.02, 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 ADME and GQGU?
46.6% of GQGU's money is in holdings ADME also owns. 46.6% of GQGU's is in holdings ADME also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 166 positions we hold weights for in ADME and 33 in GQGU.
Which pays a higher dividend, ADME or GQGU?
ADME yields 0.36% while GQGU yields 1.00%, so GQGU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is GQGU better than ADME?
GQGU has a lower expense ratio. ADME led over 1Y and the full window. ADME is less concentrated, with 40.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.