DEEP vs QQQ
Acquirers Small and Micro Deep Value ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DEEP or QQQ?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEEP is less concentrated, with 13.0% 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 | DEEP | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $28M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.91% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 101 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +24.22%Best | +17.54% |
| 1Y Return | +24.49% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.31% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.21% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.9% | 18.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.4% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,515 | $19,407Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.0%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Acquirers Funds, LLC | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 23, 2014 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 23, 2014 to Sep 4, 2026 (11.9 years).
DEEP 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 11.9 years both funds cover.
DEEP vs QQQ Performance
Acquirers Small and Micro Deep Value ETF (DEEP) is an ETF from Acquirers Funds, LLC and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year DEEP returned +24.49% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, DEEP is up 24.22% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, DEEP compounded at +11.31% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +6.21% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.39% annualized vs +5.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DEEP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.9% compared with 18.5% for QQQ. 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 -56.4% for DEEP 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
DEEP charges 0.80% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $18 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DEEP currently yields 1.91% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in DEEP and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in DEEP and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 101 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for DEEP (96.8% of the fund), and 90 for DEEP that do not appear in QQQ (90.1%).
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 DEEP 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, DEEP or QQQ?
DEEP has an expense ratio of 0.80% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DEEP or QQQ?
Over the past year DEEP returned +24.49% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), DEEP annualized +5.72% vs +18.39% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DEEP or QQQ?
DEEP has been the more volatile fund at 21.9% annualized versus 18.5% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: DEEP -56.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both DEEP and QQQ?
DEEP 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, DEEP or QQQ?
DEEP yields 1.91% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so DEEP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DEEP?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEEP is less concentrated, with 13.0% 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.