CUSD vs QQQ
CrossingBridge Ultra-Short Duration ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CUSD or QQQ?
Small Cap Growth 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 54.2%.
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 | CUSD | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.81% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $11M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 13.50% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 39 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.0%Best | 21.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.4%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $13,185 | $19,987Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 54.2% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | CrossingBridge | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2021 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 53 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. CUSD has data through Jul 13, 2026 and QQQ through Sep 4, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2021 to Jul 13, 2026 (4.8 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 3.0% for CUSD. 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 -5.4% for CUSD 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 0.09. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CUSD charges 0.81% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $81 vs $18 annually, a gap of $63 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CUSD currently yields 13.50% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 35 holdings in CUSD and 102 in QQQ, totalling 97.0% 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 159 days apart, CUSD as of Feb 27, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in CUSD and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 39 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for CUSD (96.8% of the fund), and 27 for CUSD that do not appear in QQQ (63.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CUSD 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, CUSD or QQQ?
CUSD has an expense ratio of 0.81% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $63 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, CUSD or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 3.0% for CUSD. Worst drawdown: CUSD -5.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both CUSD and QQQ?
CUSD and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.09, 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, CUSD or QQQ?
CUSD yields 13.50% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so CUSD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CUSD?
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 54.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.