FEP vs QQQ
First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FEP or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. FEP led over 1Y and 3Y, QQQ over 5Y and the full window. FEP is less concentrated, with 9.8% 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 | FEP | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $539M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.72% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 414 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +12.64% | +17.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +26.98%Best | +26.50% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.45%Best | +24.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.04% | +14.15%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.0% | 17.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.6% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,134 | $19,381Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.8%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 18, 2011 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2011 to Sep 3, 2026 (15.4 years).
FEP 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
FEP vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP) 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 FEP returned +26.98% while QQQ returned +26.50%. Year to date, FEP is up 12.64% versus a gain of 17.33% for QQQ.
Over three years, FEP compounded at +25.45% per year against +24.58% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +10.04% and +14.15% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +17.94% annualized vs +5.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FEP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% compared with 17.5% 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 -48.6% for FEP 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FEP charges 0.80% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $18 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FEP currently yields 2.72% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 200 holdings in FEP and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.8% 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 200 positions we hold weights for in FEP and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 414 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FEP (97.5% of the fund), and 5 for FEP that do not appear in QQQ (1.8%).
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 FEP 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, FEP or QQQ?
FEP has an expense ratio of 0.80% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FEP or QQQ?
Over the past year FEP returned +26.98% vs +26.50% for QQQ, so FEP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FEP annualized +5.76% vs +17.94% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FEP or QQQ?
FEP has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 17.5% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: FEP -48.6% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both FEP and QQQ?
FEP and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, FEP or QQQ?
FEP yields 2.72% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FEP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FEP?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. FEP led over 1Y and 3Y, QQQ over 5Y and the full window. FEP is less concentrated, with 9.8% 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.