CGUS vs QQQ
Capital Group Core Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CGUS or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. CGUS is less concentrated, with 42.9% 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 | CGUS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.33% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $11.7B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.82% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 75 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +11.05% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.06% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.00% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.39% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 20.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -21.9%Best | -29.6% |
| $10,000 over 4.5 years | $18,896 | $21,416Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.9%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Capital Group (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 22, 2022 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2022 to Sep 11, 2026 (4.5 years).
CGUS 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 4.5 years both funds cover.
CGUS vs QQQ Performance
Capital Group Core Equity ETF (CGUS) is an ETF from Capital Group (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year CGUS returned +14.06% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, CGUS is up 11.05% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, CGUS compounded at +21.00% per year against +24.98% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% compared with 14.8% for CGUS. 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 -21.9% for CGUS and -29.6% 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CGUS charges 0.33% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $33 vs $18 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CGUS currently yields 0.82% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
51.4% of CGUS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 51.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings CGUS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
22 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in CGUS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 75 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 73 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for CGUS (45.3% of the fund), and 37 for CGUS that do not appear in QQQ (38.1%).
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 CGUS | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.23% | 8.44% | 1.21% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 6.65% | 5.76% | 0.89% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.21% | 4.67% | 0.54% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.43% | 7.27% | 4.84% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.04% | 3.16% | 2.88% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.20% | 3.36% | 0.16% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 3.41% | 2.78% | 0.63% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.92% | 3.13% | 1.21% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 2.57% | 1.86% | 0.71% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.98% | 2.10% | 0.12% |
51.7% of QQQ is already inside CGUS.
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, CGUS or QQQ?
CGUS has an expense ratio of 0.33% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CGUS or QQQ?
Over the past year CGUS returned +14.06% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CGUS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 14.8% for CGUS. Worst drawdown: CGUS -21.9% vs QQQ -29.6%.
Should I hold both CGUS and QQQ?
CGUS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 CGUS and QQQ?
51.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings CGUS also owns. 51.7% of QQQ's is in holdings CGUS also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in CGUS and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, CGUS or QQQ?
CGUS yields 0.82% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so CGUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CGUS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. CGUS is less concentrated, with 42.9% 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.