FGSI vs QQQ
FT Vest Growth Strength & Target Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FGSI or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. FGSI is less concentrated, with 23.7% 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 | FGSI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.14% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 104 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +6.41% | +15.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.53% | +22.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.15% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.5%Best | 19.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.6%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,020 | $13,015Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.7%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.2 years).
FGSI 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
FGSI vs QQQ Performance
FT Vest Growth Strength & Target Income ETF (FGSI) 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 FGSI returned +4.53% while QQQ returned +22.63%. Year to date, FGSI is up 6.41% versus a gain of 15.86% 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 19.9% compared with 9.5% for FGSI. 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 -8.6% for FGSI and -12.0% 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FGSI charges 0.85% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $18 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FGSI currently yields 8.14% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
43.1% of FGSI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 31.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings FGSI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
21 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FGSI and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 104 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 74 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FGSI (65.9% of the fund), and 29 for FGSI that do not appear in QQQ (56.2%).
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 FGSI | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.07% | 8.44% | 6.37% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.44% | 5.76% | 3.32% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.90% | 3.16% | 1.26% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.69% | 2.78% | 1.09% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 2.67% | 1.60% | 1.07% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 1.89% | 1.84% | 0.05% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 2.23% | 1.37% | 0.86% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 2.13% | 0.81% | 1.32% |
| STXSeagate Technology Plc | 2.01% | 0.83% | 1.18% |
| ADBEAdobe Inc | 2.34% | 0.46% | 1.88% |
43.1% of FGSI 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, FGSI or QQQ?
FGSI has an expense ratio of 0.85% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FGSI or QQQ?
Over the past year FGSI returned +4.53% vs +22.63% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), FGSI annualized +8.43% vs +24.56% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FGSI or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 9.5% for FGSI. Worst drawdown: FGSI -8.6% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both FGSI and QQQ?
FGSI and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 FGSI and QQQ?
43.1% of FGSI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 31.2% of QQQ's is in holdings FGSI also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FGSI and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, FGSI or QQQ?
FGSI yields 8.14% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FGSI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FGSI?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. FGSI is less concentrated, with 23.7% 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.