DVOL vs QQQ
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DVOL or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DVOL is less concentrated, with 30.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | DVOL | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $71M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.78% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 102 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +0.39% | +21.44%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.89% | +23.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.43% | +27.86%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.89% | +16.25%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.1%Best | 20.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.3% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,313 | $21,231Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.3%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 5, 2018 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 7, 2018 to Oct 1, 2026 (8.1 years).
DVOL 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 8.1 years both funds cover.
DVOL vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL) 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 DVOL returned +0.89% while QQQ returned +23.58%. Year to date, DVOL is up 0.39% versus a gain of 21.44% for QQQ.
Over three years, DVOL compounded at +13.43% per year against +27.86% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +5.89% and +16.25% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.60% annualized vs +7.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% compared with 16.1% for DVOL. 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 -38.3% for DVOL 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DVOL 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, DVOL currently yields 0.78% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
8.4% of DVOL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 10.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings DVOL also owns.
QQQ and DVOL share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in DVOL and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 102 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 91 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for DVOL (87.5% of the fund), and 44 for DVOL that do not appear in QQQ (88.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DVOL 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, DVOL or QQQ?
DVOL 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, DVOL or QQQ?
Over the past year DVOL returned +0.89% vs +23.58% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), DVOL annualized +7.97% vs +19.60% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DVOL or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 16.1% for DVOL. Worst drawdown: DVOL -38.3% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both DVOL and QQQ?
DVOL and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 DVOL and QQQ?
10.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings DVOL also owns. 10.2% of QQQ's is in holdings DVOL also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in DVOL and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, DVOL or QQQ?
DVOL yields 0.78% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so DVOL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DVOL?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DVOL is less concentrated, with 30.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.