GOAU vs QQQ
US Global GO Gold and Precious Metal Miners ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GOAU or QQQ?
Precious Metals against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. GOAU led over 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.7%.
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 | GOAU | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $194M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.82% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 75 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +1.26% | +22.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.95% | +24.33%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +46.28%Best | +29.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +23.04%Best | +17.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 36.9% | 19.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -52.9% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $28,199Best | $21,924 |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.7% | 47.2%Best |
| Fund Family | U.S. Global Investors, Inc. | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Commodity | Equity |
| Style | Precious Metals | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 27, 2017 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 28, 2017 to Oct 2, 2026 (9.3 years).
GOAU 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 9.3 years both funds cover.
GOAU vs QQQ Performance
US Global GO Gold and Precious Metal Miners ETF (GOAU) is an ETF from U.S. Global Investors, Inc. and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GOAU returned +6.95% while QQQ returned +24.33%. Year to date, GOAU is up 1.26% versus a gain of 22.67% for QQQ.
Over three years, GOAU compounded at +46.28% per year against +29.05% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +23.04% and +17.00% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.29% annualized vs +16.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GOAU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 36.9% compared with 19.6% 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 -52.9% for GOAU 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 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GOAU 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, GOAU currently yields 0.82% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 44 holdings in GOAU 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 44 positions we hold weights for in GOAU and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 75 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for GOAU (97.8% of the fund), and 5 for GOAU that do not appear in QQQ (21.7%).
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 GOAU 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, GOAU or QQQ?
GOAU 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, GOAU or QQQ?
Over the past year GOAU returned +6.95% vs +24.33% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), GOAU annualized +16.40% vs +20.29% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GOAU or QQQ?
GOAU has been the more volatile fund at 36.9% annualized versus 19.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: GOAU -52.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both GOAU and QQQ?
GOAU and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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, GOAU or QQQ?
GOAU yields 0.82% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so GOAU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GOAU?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. GOAU led over 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.