FRI vs QQQ
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FRI or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend 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 53.0%.
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 | FRI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $196M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.48% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 254 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +13.80% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.74% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.33% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.81% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.4% | 18.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.3% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,056 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 53.0% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 8, 2007 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 10, 2007 to Sep 11, 2026 (19.3 years).
FRI 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.
FRI vs QQQ Performance
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI) 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 FRI returned +11.74% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, FRI is up 13.80% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, FRI compounded at +11.33% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.81% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.41% annualized vs +3.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FRI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.4% compared with 18.9% 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 -73.3% for FRI 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FRI charges 0.50% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $18 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FRI currently yields 2.48% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 124 holdings in FRI and 102 in QQQ, totalling 95.8% 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 124 positions we hold weights for in FRI and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 254 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FRI (97.0% of the fund), and 122 for FRI that do not appear in QQQ (93.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FRI 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, FRI or QQQ?
FRI has an expense ratio of 0.50% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FRI or QQQ?
Over the past year FRI returned +11.74% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), FRI annualized +3.02% vs +15.41% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FRI or QQQ?
FRI has been the more volatile fund at 22.4% annualized versus 18.9% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: FRI -73.3% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both FRI and QQQ?
FRI and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, FRI or QQQ?
FRI yields 2.48% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FRI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FRI?
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 53.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.