AIPO vs QQQ
Defiance AI & Power Infrastructure ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, AIPO or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. AIPO led over the full window, QQQ over 1Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.6%.
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 | AIPO | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $927M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 83 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +24.71%Best | +22.67% |
| 1Y Return | +24.19% | +24.33%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +29.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 33.9% | 19.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.4% | -12.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $14,233Best | $13,351 |
| Top 10 Weight | 57.6% | 47.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 24, 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 25, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.2 years).
AIPO 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.
AIPO vs QQQ Performance
Defiance AI & Power Infrastructure ETF (AIPO) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year AIPO returned +24.19% while QQQ returned +24.33%. Year to date, AIPO is up 24.71% versus a gain of 22.67% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIPO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.9% compared with 19.7% 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 -24.4% for AIPO 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIPO charges 0.69% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $18 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIPO currently yields 0.01% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
18.9% of AIPO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 17.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings AIPO also owns.
AIPO and QQQ share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 82 positions we hold weights for in AIPO and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 83 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 88 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for AIPO (80.6% of the fund), and 64 for AIPO that do not appear in QQQ (71.7%).
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 AIPO | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.53% | 8.45% | 3.92% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.99% | 2.74% | 1.25% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.58% | 3.71% | 1.13% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 4.22% | 0.45% | 3.77% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 2.05% | 0.21% | 1.84% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd. | 0.75% | 0.91% | 0.16% |
| ARMArm Holdings Plc Adr | 0.38% | 0.50% | 0.12% |
| ALABAstera Labs Inc - Common | 0.36% | 0.22% | 0.14% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AIPO 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, AIPO or QQQ?
AIPO has an expense ratio of 0.69% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIPO or QQQ?
Over the past year AIPO returned +24.19% vs +24.33% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AIPO annualized +34.20% vs +27.23% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIPO or QQQ?
AIPO has been the more volatile fund at 33.9% annualized versus 19.7% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: AIPO -24.4% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both AIPO and QQQ?
AIPO and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 AIPO and QQQ?
18.9% of AIPO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 17.2% of QQQ's is in holdings AIPO also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 82 positions we hold weights for in AIPO and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIPO or QQQ?
AIPO yields 0.01% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than AIPO?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. AIPO led over the full window, QQQ over 1Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.