GDXJ vs QQQ
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GDXJ or QQQ?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. GDXJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over the full window. GDXJ is less concentrated, with 42.6% 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 | GDXJ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $6.9B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.00% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 120 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +6.28% | +15.18%Best |
| 1Y Return | +34.53%Best | +19.65% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +51.58%Best | +24.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.47%Best | +13.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 42.2% | 17.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.7% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $29,876Best | $19,204 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.6%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2009 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 11, 2009 to Sep 15, 2026 (16.8 years).
GDXJ 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.
GDXJ vs QQQ Performance
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) is an ETF from VanEck and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GDXJ returned +34.53% while QQQ returned +19.65%. Year to date, GDXJ is up 6.28% versus a gain of 15.18% for QQQ.
Over three years, GDXJ compounded at +51.58% per year against +24.60% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +24.47% and +13.94% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.14% annualized vs +2.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDXJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 42.2% 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 -88.7% for GDXJ 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 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDXJ charges 0.52% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $18 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDXJ currently yields 2.00% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 112 holdings in GDXJ and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 112 positions we hold weights for in GDXJ and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 120 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for GDXJ (97.5% of the fund), and 12 for GDXJ that do not appear in QQQ (10.8%).
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 GDXJ 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, GDXJ or QQQ?
GDXJ has an expense ratio of 0.52% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDXJ or QQQ?
Over the past year GDXJ returned +34.53% vs +19.65% for QQQ, so GDXJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), GDXJ annualized +2.95% vs +18.14% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDXJ or QQQ?
GDXJ has been the more volatile fund at 42.2% annualized versus 17.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: GDXJ -88.7% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both GDXJ and QQQ?
GDXJ 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, GDXJ or QQQ?
GDXJ yields 2.00% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so GDXJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GDXJ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. GDXJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over the full window. GDXJ is less concentrated, with 42.6% 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.