FTXG vs QQQ
First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FTXG or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value 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 62.7%.
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 | FTXG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $19M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.49% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 62 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +8.85% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.41% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -0.15% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.96% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Best | 19.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.8%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,489 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.7% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2016 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 10, 2016 to Sep 11, 2026 (9.9 years).
FTXG 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.
FTXG vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (FTXG) 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 FTXG returned +4.41% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, FTXG is up 8.85% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, FTXG compounded at -0.15% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +0.96% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.18% annualized vs +2.62%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 14.3% for FTXG. 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 -33.8% for FTXG 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 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTXG charges 0.60% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $18 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTXG currently yields 2.49% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
32.3% of FTXG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings FTXG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
5 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in FTXG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 62 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 90 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FTXG (95.1% of the fund), and 24 for FTXG that do not appear in QQQ (65.4%).
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.
32.3% of FTXG 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, FTXG or QQQ?
FTXG has an expense ratio of 0.60% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTXG or QQQ?
Over the past year FTXG returned +4.41% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), FTXG annualized +2.62% vs +20.18% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTXG or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 14.3% for FTXG. Worst drawdown: FTXG -33.8% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both FTXG and QQQ?
FTXG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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 FTXG and QQQ?
32.3% of FTXG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.9% of QQQ's is in holdings FTXG also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in FTXG and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTXG or QQQ?
FTXG yields 2.49% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FTXG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FTXG?
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 62.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.