AFOS vs QQQ
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, AFOS or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. AFOS is less concentrated, with 45.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | AFOS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $298M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.22% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 32 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +29.01%Best | +22.67% |
| 1Y Return | +45.58%Best | +24.33% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +29.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 19.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.8%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $18,290Best | $13,917 |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.8%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | ARS Investment | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.3 years).
AFOS 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
AFOS vs QQQ Performance
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF (AFOS) is an ETF from ARS Investment and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year AFOS returned +45.58% while QQQ returned +24.33%. Year to date, AFOS is up 29.01% versus a gain of 22.67% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFOS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 19.0% 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 -11.8% for AFOS 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFOS charges 0.45% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $18 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFOS currently yields 0.22% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
32.1% of AFOS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 37.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings AFOS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
9 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 32 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 87 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for AFOS (60.5% of the fund), and 21 for AFOS that do not appear in QQQ (65.5%).
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 AFOS | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.40% | 8.45% | 4.05% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.28% | 7.80% | 5.52% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.52% | 5.88% | 2.36% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.20% | 4.85% | 0.65% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.32% | 3.15% | 1.17% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.36% | 4.41% | 2.05% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp 3.125 06/15/2060 | 4.29% | 1.64% | 2.65% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp. | 3.91% | 0.68% | 3.23% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2.87% | 0.36% | 2.51% |
37.2% of QQQ is already inside AFOS.
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, AFOS or QQQ?
AFOS has an expense ratio of 0.45% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFOS or QQQ?
Over the past year AFOS returned +45.58% vs +24.33% for QQQ, so AFOS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AFOS annualized +59.11% vs +28.95% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFOS or QQQ?
AFOS has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 19.0% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: AFOS -11.8% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both AFOS and QQQ?
AFOS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 AFOS and QQQ?
37.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings AFOS also owns. 37.2% of QQQ's is in holdings AFOS also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFOS or QQQ?
AFOS yields 0.22% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than AFOS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. AFOS is less concentrated, with 45.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.