AREA vs QQQ
Harbor AlphaEdge Next Generation REITs ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, AREA or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%.
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 | AREA | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.66% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 86 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.0%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -21.1%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $10,226 | $13,305Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.4% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 3, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 221 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. AREA has data through Feb 19, 2026 and QQQ through Sep 28, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 5, 2024 to Feb 19, 2026 (1.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 13.0% for AREA. 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 -21.1% for AREA and -22.8% 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 -0.03. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AREA charges 0.50% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $18 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AREA currently yields 0.66% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 38 holdings in AREA and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.3% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 309 days apart, AREA as of Sep 30, 2025 and QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in AREA and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 86 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for AREA (97.5% of the fund), and 38 for AREA that do not appear in QQQ (99.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AREA 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, AREA or QQQ?
AREA has an expense ratio of 0.50% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, AREA or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 13.0% for AREA. Worst drawdown: AREA -21.1% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both AREA and QQQ?
AREA and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of -0.03, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AREA or QQQ?
AREA yields 0.66% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so AREA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than AREA?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.