DDIV vs QQQ
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Dividend ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DDIV or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DDIV is less concentrated, with 39.5% 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 | DDIV | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $75M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.53% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 102 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +7.67% | +17.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.45% | +22.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.63% | +25.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.56% | +14.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1%Best | 20.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -47.5% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,519 | $19,766Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.5%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 2014 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 5, 2018 to Sep 17, 2026 (8 years).
DDIV 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 8 years both funds cover.
DDIV vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Dividend ETF (DDIV) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year DDIV returned +16.45% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, DDIV is up 7.67% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Over three years, DDIV compounded at +18.63% per year against +25.27% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +10.56% and +14.60% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.97% annualized vs +9.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.7% compared with 20.1% for DDIV. 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 -47.5% for DDIV 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DDIV 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, DDIV currently yields 1.53% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
8.3% of DDIV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 4.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings DDIV also owns.
DDIV and QQQ share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in DDIV and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 102 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 90 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for DDIV (93.1% of the fund), and 43 for DDIV that do not appear in QQQ (89.5%).
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 DDIV | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.51% | 2.10% | 0.59% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 2.02% | 1.12% | 0.90% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 2.25% | 0.19% | 2.06% |
| NXPINxp Semiconductors Nv Sedol B505Pn7 | 1.20% | 0.26% | 0.94% |
| ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. | 0.75% | 0.36% | 0.39% |
| MARMarriott International, Inc. | 0.59% | 0.42% | 0.17% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DDIV 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, DDIV or QQQ?
DDIV 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, DDIV or QQQ?
Over the past year DDIV returned +16.45% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), DDIV annualized +9.22% vs +18.97% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DDIV or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.7% annualized versus 20.1% for DDIV. Worst drawdown: DDIV -47.5% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both DDIV and QQQ?
DDIV and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 DDIV and QQQ?
8.3% of DDIV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 4.5% of QQQ's is in holdings DDIV also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in DDIV and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, DDIV or QQQ?
DDIV yields 1.53% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so DDIV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DDIV?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DDIV is less concentrated, with 39.5% 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.