DBEF vs QQQ
Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DBEF 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. DBEF is less concentrated, with 13.7% 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 | DBEF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $9.4B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.24% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 691 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +13.34% | +21.16%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.87% | +24.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.99% | +27.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.38% | +15.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 17.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.5%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,736 | $20,430Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.7%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 9, 2011 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 9, 2011 to Sep 24, 2026 (15.3 years).
DBEF 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 15.3 years both funds cover.
DBEF vs QQQ Performance
Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF (DBEF) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year DBEF returned +22.87% while QQQ returned +24.78%. Year to date, DBEF is up 13.34% versus a gain of 21.16% for QQQ.
Over three years, DBEF compounded at +18.99% per year against +27.95% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +13.38% and +15.36% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.72% annualized vs +10.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 12.5% for DBEF. 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 -32.5% for DBEF 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DBEF charges 0.35% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $18 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DBEF currently yields 2.24% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of DBEF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings DBEF also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 660 positions we hold weights for in DBEF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 691 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for DBEF (97.3% of the fund), and 3 for DBEF that do not appear in QQQ (0.6%).
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 DBEF | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| YNDXYandex Nv Ord Eur.01 Cl A Nasdaq Stock Exchange | 0.18% | 0.21% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DBEF 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, DBEF or QQQ?
DBEF has an expense ratio of 0.35% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DBEF or QQQ?
Over the past year DBEF returned +22.87% vs +24.78% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), DBEF annualized +10.28% vs +18.72% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DBEF or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 12.5% for DBEF. Worst drawdown: DBEF -32.5% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both DBEF and QQQ?
DBEF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, DBEF or QQQ?
DBEF yields 2.24% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so DBEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DBEF?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DBEF is less concentrated, with 13.7% 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.