DPG vs QQQ
Duff & Phelps Utility and Infrastructure Fund Inc vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DPG or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DPG is less concentrated, with 33.6% 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 | DPG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.26% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $570M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.35% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 56 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +9.44% | +17.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.80% | +22.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.67% | +25.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.21% | +14.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0% | 17.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -76.0% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,837 | $19,766Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.6%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 29, 2011 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 27, 2011 to Sep 17, 2026 (15.1 years).
DPG 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.
DPG vs QQQ Performance
Duff & Phelps Utility and Infrastructure Fund Inc (DPG) is an ETF from Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year DPG returned +15.80% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, DPG is up 9.44% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Over three years, DPG compounded at +22.67% per year against +25.27% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.21% and +14.60% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.30% annualized vs +0.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DPG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.0% compared with 17.6% 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 -76.0% for DPG 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DPG charges 2.26% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $226 vs $18 annually, a gap of $208 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DPG currently yields 5.35% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
9.2% of DPG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings DPG also owns.
DPG and QQQ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 186 days apart, DPG as of Jan 31, 2026 and QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
4 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in DPG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 56 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for DPG (96.6% of the fund), and 34 for DPG that do not appear in QQQ (64.0%).
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 DPG 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, DPG or QQQ?
DPG has an expense ratio of 2.26% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $208 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DPG or QQQ?
Over the past year DPG returned +15.80% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), DPG annualized +0.61% vs +18.30% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DPG or QQQ?
DPG has been the more volatile fund at 20.0% annualized versus 17.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: DPG -76.0% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both DPG and QQQ?
DPG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 DPG and QQQ?
9.2% of DPG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.1% of QQQ's is in holdings DPG also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in DPG and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, DPG or QQQ?
DPG yields 5.35% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so DPG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DPG?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DPG is less concentrated, with 33.6% 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.