FTAG vs QQQ
First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FTAG or QQQ?
Agriculture 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 63.4%.
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 | FTAG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $15M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.24% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 61 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +18.13%Best | +17.11% |
| 1Y Return | +18.63% | +23.99%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.68% | +24.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.37% | +14.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.8% | 17.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -98.4% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,802 | $19,449Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.4% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Commodity | Equity |
| Style | Agriculture | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 11, 2010 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 12, 2010 to Sep 9, 2026 (16.5 years).
FTAG 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.
FTAG vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF (FTAG) 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 FTAG returned +18.63% while QQQ returned +23.99%. Year to date, FTAG is up 18.13% versus a gain of 17.11% for QQQ.
Over three years, FTAG compounded at +6.68% per year against +24.62% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.37% and +14.23% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.13% annualized vs -17.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTAG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.8% compared with 17.6% 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 -98.4% for FTAG 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 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTAG charges 0.70% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $18 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTAG currently yields 1.24% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 53 holdings in FTAG and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.9% 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 53 positions we hold weights for in FTAG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 61 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FTAG (97.0% of the fund), and 12 for FTAG that do not appear in QQQ (31.9%).
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 FTAG 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, FTAG or QQQ?
FTAG has an expense ratio of 0.70% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTAG or QQQ?
Over the past year FTAG returned +18.63% vs +23.99% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), FTAG annualized -17.03% vs +18.13% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTAG or QQQ?
FTAG has been the more volatile fund at 30.8% annualized versus 17.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: FTAG -98.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both FTAG and QQQ?
FTAG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, 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, FTAG or QQQ?
FTAG yields 1.24% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FTAG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FTAG?
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 63.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.