AIED vs QQQ
Defiance LLM Catalyst Momentum ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, AIED or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AIED is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.
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 | AIED | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $19M | $437.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.43% |
| Holdings | 104 | 208 |
| YTD Return | +0.34% | +7.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.85% | +7.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.48% | +21.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.28% | +11.19%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.3% | 20.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.7% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,934 | $16,995Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9%Best | 46.9% |
| Fund Family | QRAFT AI ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 21, 2019 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 21, 2019 to Nov 6, 2026 (7.5 years).
AIED 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 7.5 years both funds cover.
AIED vs QQQ Performance
Defiance LLM Catalyst Momentum ETF (AIED) is an ETF from QRAFT AI ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year AIED returned +1.85% while QQQ returned +7.77%. Year to date, AIED is up 0.34% versus a gain of 7.37% for QQQ.
Over three years, AIED compounded at +17.48% per year against +21.44% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +5.28% and +11.19% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.29% annualized vs +13.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIED has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.3% 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 -39.7% for AIED 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIED charges 0.75% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $18 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIED currently yields 0.00% against 0.43% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
44.6% of AIED's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 34.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings AIED also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
21 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in AIED and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 104 and 208.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 73 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for AIED (62.8% of the fund), and 31 for AIED that do not appear in QQQ (55.0%).
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 AIED | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.25% | 8.05% | 0.20% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.85% | 4.47% | 1.62% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.15% | 2.52% | 1.63% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.69% | 3.90% | 1.21% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc. | 3.57% | 1.96% | 1.61% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks Inc. | 2.78% | 1.28% | 1.50% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 1.62% | 2.13% | 0.51% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 2.56% | 1.06% | 1.50% |
| SNDKVSandisk Corp. | 2.14% | 0.87% | 1.27% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 2.07% | 0.57% | 1.50% |
44.6% of AIED is already inside QQQ.
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, AIED or QQQ?
AIED has an expense ratio of 0.75% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIED or QQQ?
Over the past year AIED returned +1.85% vs +7.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), AIED annualized +13.85% vs +19.29% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIED or QQQ?
AIED has been the more volatile fund at 22.3% annualized versus 20.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: AIED -39.7% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both AIED and QQQ?
AIED and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 AIED and QQQ?
44.6% of AIED's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 34.4% of QQQ's is in holdings AIED also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in AIED and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIED or QQQ?
AIED yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.43%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than AIED?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AIED is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.