BLES vs QQQ
Inspire Global Hope ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BLES or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BLES is less concentrated, with 3.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | BLES | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $167M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.80% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 420 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +15.67% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.23% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.76% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.19% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4%Best | 19.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -40.4% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,823 | $19,407Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.7%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Inspire ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2017 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2017 to Sep 4, 2026 (9.5 years).
BLES 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 9.5 years both funds cover.
BLES vs QQQ Performance
Inspire Global Hope ETF (BLES) is an ETF from Inspire ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BLES returned +21.23% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, BLES is up 15.67% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, BLES compounded at +16.76% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.19% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.10% annualized vs +9.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 17.4% for BLES. 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 -40.4% for BLES 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BLES charges 0.60% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $18 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BLES currently yields 1.80% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
6.0% of BLES's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 11.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings BLES also owns.
QQQ and BLES share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 158 days apart, BLES as of Feb 28, 2026 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.
24 positions in common, counted across the 399 positions we hold weights for in BLES and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 420 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 73 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for BLES (85.9% of the fund), and 178 for BLES that do not appear in QQQ (43.8%).
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 BLES | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.21% | 3.16% | 2.95% |
| KLACKla Corp | 0.28% | 1.11% | 0.83% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp Company Guar 11/28 3 | 0.36% | 0.79% | 0.43% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd. | 0.22% | 0.81% | 0.59% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.19% | 0.73% | 0.54% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 0.23% | 0.53% | 0.30% |
| CSXCsx Corp. | 0.27% | 0.42% | 0.15% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 0.37% | 0.27% | 0.10% |
| MDLZMondelez International Inc Com A Npv | 0.26% | 0.35% | 0.09% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc | 0.19% | 0.41% | 0.22% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BLES 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, BLES or QQQ?
BLES has an expense ratio of 0.60% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BLES or QQQ?
Over the past year BLES returned +21.23% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), BLES annualized +9.47% vs +20.10% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BLES or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 17.4% for BLES. Worst drawdown: BLES -40.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both BLES and QQQ?
BLES and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 BLES and QQQ?
11.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings BLES also owns. 11.9% of QQQ's is in holdings BLES also owns. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 399 positions we hold weights for in BLES and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BLES or QQQ?
BLES yields 1.80% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so BLES currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BLES?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BLES is less concentrated, with 3.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.