AQEC vs QQQ
AQE Core ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, AQEC or QQQ?
QQQ costs less.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. AQEC is less concentrated, with 37.7% 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 | AQEC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $601M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.89% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 133 | 321 |
| YTD Return | -0.17% | +22.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +24.33% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +29.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.00% |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.7%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | Arlington Partners, LLC | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AQEC 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AQEC vs QQQ Performance
AQE Core ETF (AQEC) is an ETF from Arlington Partners, LLC and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Year to date, AQEC is down 0.17% versus a gain of 22.67% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQEC charges 0.49% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $18 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQEC currently yields 0.89% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
48.5% of AQEC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 74.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings AQEC also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside AQEC. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
36 positions in common, counted across the 132 positions we hold weights for in AQEC and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 133 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 60 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for AQEC (22.8% of the fund), and 87 for AQEC that do not appear in QQQ (45.3%).
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 AQEC | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.86% | 8.45% | 0.59% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.49% | 7.80% | 0.31% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 5.88% | 0.12% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.28% | 4.41% | 1.13% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 3.15% | 0.21% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.41% | 4.85% | 3.44% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.33% | 2.74% | 0.41% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.13% | 2.93% | 0.80% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.87% | 3.07% | 1.20% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.01% | 3.71% | 2.70% |
74.9% of QQQ is already inside AQEC.
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, AQEC or QQQ?
AQEC has an expense ratio of 0.49% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AQEC and QQQ?
74.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings AQEC also owns. 74.9% of QQQ's is in holdings AQEC also owns. They hold 36 positions in common, counted across the 132 positions we hold weights for in AQEC and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQEC or QQQ?
AQEC yields 0.89% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so AQEC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than AQEC?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. AQEC is less concentrated, with 37.7% 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.