DIG vs QQQ
ProShares Ultra Energy vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DIG or QQQ?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. DIG led over 1Y and 5Y, QQQ over 3Y and the full window.
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 | DIG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $86M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 29 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +89.93%Best | +17.21% |
| 1Y Return | +96.33%Best | +22.10% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.37% | +25.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +38.64%Best | +14.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 52.8% | 18.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -97.4% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $51,220Best | $19,766 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 30, 2007 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 17, 2026 (19.6 years).
DIG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
DIG vs QQQ Performance
ProShares Ultra Energy (DIG) is an ETF from ProShares and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year DIG returned +96.33% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, DIG is up 89.93% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Over three years, DIG compounded at +18.37% per year against +25.27% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +38.64% and +14.60% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.47% annualized vs -0.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DIG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 52.8% compared with 18.8% 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 -97.4% for DIG and -53.5% 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 0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DIG charges 0.95% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $18 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DIG currently yields 1.27% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings DIG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DIG, our book for it covers 75.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in DIG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 29 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DIG 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, DIG or QQQ?
DIG has an expense ratio of 0.95% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DIG or QQQ?
Over the past year DIG returned +96.33% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so DIG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), DIG annualized -0.66% vs +15.47% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DIG or QQQ?
DIG has been the more volatile fund at 52.8% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: DIG -97.4% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both DIG and QQQ?
DIG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.43, 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, DIG or QQQ?
DIG yields 1.27% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so DIG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DIG?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. DIG led over 1Y and 5Y, QQQ over 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.