FFA vs QQQ
First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FFA or QQQ?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.7%.
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 | FFA | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.13% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $514M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.19% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 86 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +10.34% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.22% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.82% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.12% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6%Best | 18.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -67.6% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,471 | $19,407Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.7% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2004 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 4, 2004 to Sep 4, 2026 (21.9 years).
FFA 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.
FFA vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund (FFA) 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 FFA returned +17.22% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, FFA is up 10.34% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, FFA compounded at +16.82% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +9.12% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.76% annualized vs +2.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 16.6% for FFA. 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 -67.6% for FFA and -53.5% 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FFA charges 1.13% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $113 vs $18 annually, a gap of $95 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FFA currently yields 6.19% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
49.3% of FFA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 48.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings FFA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in FFA and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 86 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 78 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FFA (49.1% of the fund), and 42 for FFA that do not appear in QQQ (47.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FFA | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 9.34% | 7.27% | 2.07% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.31% | 8.44% | 1.13% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 6.67% | 5.76% | 0.91% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 7.17% | 3.13% | 4.04% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.66% | 4.67% | 2.01% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.95% | 3.16% | 0.79% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.41% | 4.43% | 3.02% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.15% | 2.10% | 0.05% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.01% | 2.78% | 1.77% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 1.03% | 1.84% | 0.81% |
49.3% of FFA is already inside QQQ.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, FFA or QQQ?
FFA has an expense ratio of 1.13% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $95 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FFA or QQQ?
Over the past year FFA returned +17.22% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), FFA annualized +2.49% vs +14.76% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FFA or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 16.6% for FFA. Worst drawdown: FFA -67.6% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both FFA and QQQ?
FFA and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 FFA and QQQ?
49.3% of FFA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 48.4% of QQQ's is in holdings FFA also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in FFA and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, FFA or QQQ?
FFA yields 6.19% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FFA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FFA?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.