FTKI vs QQQ
First Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FTKI or QQQ?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. FTKI is less concentrated, with 20.8% 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 | FTKI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.86% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.26% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 300 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +12.18% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.81% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.4%Best | 20.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.2%Best | -18.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $11,848 | $14,686Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.8%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 26, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 27, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.6 years).
FTKI 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
FTKI vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF (FTKI) 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 FTKI returned +16.81% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, FTKI is up 12.18% versus a gain of 17.95% 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 20.3% compared with 10.4% for FTKI. 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 -15.2% for FTKI and -18.0% 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 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTKI charges 0.86% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $86 vs $18 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTKI currently yields 12.26% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 144 holdings in FTKI and 102 in QQQ, totalling 98.5% 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 144 positions we hold weights for in FTKI and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 300 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FTKI (97.5% of the fund), and 119 for FTKI that do not appear in QQQ (82.5%).
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 FTKI 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, FTKI or QQQ?
FTKI has an expense ratio of 0.86% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTKI or QQQ?
Over the past year FTKI returned +16.81% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FTKI annualized +11.18% vs +27.15% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTKI or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 10.4% for FTKI. Worst drawdown: FTKI -15.2% vs QQQ -18.0%.
Should I hold both FTKI and QQQ?
FTKI and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.24, 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, FTKI or QQQ?
FTKI yields 12.26% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FTKI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FTKI?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. FTKI is less concentrated, with 20.8% 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.