FLAU vs QQQ
Franklin FTSE Australia ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FLAU or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
FLAU 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 55.8%.
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 | FLAU | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $228M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.96% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 111 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +12.04% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.11% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.40% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.13% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0%Tie | 20.0%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -46.0% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,111 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.8% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 2, 2017 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 6, 2017 to Sep 11, 2026 (8.8 years).
FLAU 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 8.8 years both funds cover.
FLAU vs QQQ Performance
Franklin FTSE Australia ETF (FLAU) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year FLAU returned +11.11% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, FLAU is up 12.04% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, FLAU compounded at +14.40% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +7.13% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.41% annualized vs +6.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FLAU and QQQ have been equally volatile, both at 20.0% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -46.0% for FLAU 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FLAU charges 0.09% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $18 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FLAU currently yields 2.96% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 107 holdings in FLAU 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 107 positions we hold weights for in FLAU and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 111 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FLAU (97.0% of the fund), and 2 for FLAU that do not appear in QQQ (2.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FLAU 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, FLAU or QQQ?
FLAU has an expense ratio of 0.09% while QQQ charges 0.18%. FLAU is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FLAU or QQQ?
Over the past year FLAU returned +11.11% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), FLAU annualized +6.52% vs +19.41% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FLAU or QQQ?
FLAU and QQQ have been equally volatile, both at 20.0% annualized. Worst drawdown: FLAU -46.0% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both FLAU and QQQ?
FLAU and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, FLAU or QQQ?
FLAU yields 2.96% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FLAU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FLAU?
FLAU 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 55.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.