DIVZ vs QQQ
Polen Dividend Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DIVZ or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.7%.
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 | DIVZ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $297M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.53% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 58 | 321 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 20.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.4%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 4.4 years | $15,910 | $16,896Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.7% | 47.2%Best |
| Fund Family | TrueShares | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 27, 2021 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 475 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. DIVZ has data through Jun 13, 2025 and QQQ through Oct 1, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2021 to Jun 13, 2025 (4.4 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.2% compared with 14.4% for DIVZ. 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 -15.4% for DIVZ 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DIVZ charges 0.65% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $18 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DIVZ currently yields 2.53% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
12.5% of DIVZ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 11.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings DIVZ also owns.
DIVZ and QQQ share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in DIVZ and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 58 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 91 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for DIVZ (86.5% of the fund), and 23 for DIVZ that do not appear in QQQ (84.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DIVZ 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, DIVZ or QQQ?
DIVZ has an expense ratio of 0.65% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, DIVZ or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.2% annualized versus 14.4% for DIVZ. Worst drawdown: DIVZ -15.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both DIVZ and QQQ?
DIVZ and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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 DIVZ and QQQ?
12.5% of DIVZ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 11.3% of QQQ's is in holdings DIVZ also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in DIVZ and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, DIVZ or QQQ?
DIVZ yields 2.53% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so DIVZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DIVZ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.