DAK vs QQQ
Dakota Active Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DAK or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. DAK is less concentrated, with 32.9% 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 | DAK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.43% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $44M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.73% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 140 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +12.17% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.26% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8%Best | 20.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.9%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,973 | $12,664Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.9%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Dakota | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.1 years).
DAK 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
DAK vs QQQ Performance
Dakota Active Equity ETF (DAK) is an ETF from Dakota and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year DAK returned +15.26% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, DAK is up 12.17% versus a gain of 17.95% 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 20.4% compared with 11.8% for DAK. 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 -7.9% for DAK and -12.0% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DAK charges 0.43% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $43 vs $18 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DAK currently yields 0.73% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
37.9% of DAK's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 60.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings DAK also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
31 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in DAK and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 140 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 65 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for DAK (37.5% of the fund), and 105 for DAK that do not appear in QQQ (61.6%).
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 DAK | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.92% | 7.27% | 1.35% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.43% | 8.44% | 6.01% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.28% | 5.76% | 2.48% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.39% | 4.67% | 2.28% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.32% | 3.13% | 0.19% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.62% | 3.45% | 0.83% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 1.18% | 3.36% | 2.18% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.69% | 2.10% | 0.41% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 2.50% | 0.81% | 1.69% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 1.43% | 1.84% | 0.41% |
60.1% of QQQ is already inside DAK.
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, DAK or QQQ?
DAK has an expense ratio of 0.43% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DAK or QQQ?
Over the past year DAK returned +15.26% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), DAK annualized +17.79% vs +23.95% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DAK or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 11.8% for DAK. Worst drawdown: DAK -7.9% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both DAK and QQQ?
DAK and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 DAK and QQQ?
60.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings DAK also owns. 60.1% of QQQ's is in holdings DAK also owns. They hold 31 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in DAK and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, DAK or QQQ?
DAK yields 0.73% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so DAK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DAK?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. DAK is less concentrated, with 32.9% 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.