ELM vs QQQ
Elm Market Navigator ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ELM or QQQ?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 90.5%.
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 | ELM | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $595M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.50% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 20 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +7.45% | +15.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.98% | +20.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.86% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.26% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.7%Best | 20.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.0%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $12,093 | $13,563Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 90.5% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Elm Partners Management LLC | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 10, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2025 to Sep 14, 2026 (1.6 years).
ELM 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
ELM vs QQQ Performance
Elm Market Navigator ETF (ELM) is an ETF from Elm Partners Management LLC and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year ELM returned +10.98% while QQQ returned +20.44%. Year to date, ELM is up 7.45% versus a gain of 15.94% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 7.7% for ELM. 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 -9.0% for ELM and -22.8% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ELM charges 0.24% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $18 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ELM currently yields 2.50% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 19 holdings in ELM and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 19 positions we hold weights for in ELM and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 20 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ELM (97.5% of the fund), and 18 for ELM that do not appear in QQQ (99.1%).
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 ELM 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, ELM or QQQ?
ELM has an expense ratio of 0.24% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ELM or QQQ?
Over the past year ELM returned +10.98% vs +20.44% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ELM annualized +12.61% vs +20.98% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ELM or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 7.7% for ELM. Worst drawdown: ELM -9.0% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both ELM and QQQ?
ELM and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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, ELM or QQQ?
ELM yields 2.50% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so ELM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ELM?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 90.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.