GQGU vs THRO
GQG US Equity ETF vs iShares US Thematic Rotation Active ETF
Which is better, GQGU or THRO?
THRO has been ahead.
GQGU has a lower expense ratio. THRO led over 1Y and the full window. THRO is less concentrated, with 43.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%.
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 | GQGU | THRO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49%Best | 0.57% |
| AUM | $506M | $7.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.00% | 0.30% |
| Holdings | 72 | 500 |
| YTD Return | -2.98% | +11.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.84% | +11.15%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.31% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9% | 13.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4% | -10.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $9,592 | $11,983Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.4% | 43.7%Best |
| Fund Family | GQG Partners LLC | BlackRock, Inc. (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 31, 2019 | Dec 14, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.3 years).
GQGU vs THRO 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
GQGU vs THRO Performance
GQG US Equity ETF (GQGU) is an ETF from GQG Partners LLC and iShares US Thematic Rotation Active ETF (THRO) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US). Over the past year GQGU returned -2.84% while THRO returned +11.15%. Year to date, GQGU is down 2.98% versus a gain of 11.21% for THRO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GQGU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 13.8% for THRO. 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 -18.4% for GQGU and -10.9% for THRO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.03. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GQGU charges 0.49% per year while THRO charges 0.57%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $57 annually, a gap of $8 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GQGU currently yields 1.00% against 0.30% for THRO.
Holdings Overlap
31.4% of GQGU's money is in holdings THRO also owns. 5.0% of THRO's money is in holdings GQGU also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
8 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in GQGU and 247 in THRO, against full books of 72 and 500.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 155 positions for THRO that do not appear in our book for GQGU (93.9% of the fund), and 24 for GQGU that do not appear in THRO (60.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GQGU | Weight in THRO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxonmobil Corp. | 6.46% | 2.65% | 3.81% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 6.27% | 0.00% | 6.27% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 5.31% | 0.35% | 4.96% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 3.33% | 1.41% | 1.92% |
| ALLAllstate Corp/the | 4.35% | 0.28% | 4.07% |
| RNRRenaissancere Holdings Ltd Rnr | 2.23% | 0.07% | 2.16% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 1.92% | 0.00% | 1.92% |
| TRVTravelers Cos Inc/The | 1.57% | 0.25% | 1.32% |
31.4% of GQGU is already inside THRO.
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, GQGU or THRO?
GQGU has an expense ratio of 0.49% while THRO charges 0.57%. GQGU is the cheaper option, by $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GQGU or THRO?
Over the past year GQGU returned -2.84% vs +11.15% for THRO, so THRO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), GQGU annualized -3.15% vs +14.93% for THRO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GQGU or THRO?
GQGU has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 13.8% for THRO. Worst drawdown: GQGU -18.4% vs THRO -10.9%.
Should I hold both GQGU and THRO?
GQGU and THRO have a monthly-return correlation of -0.03, 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 GQGU and THRO?
31.4% of GQGU's money is in holdings THRO also owns. 5.0% of THRO's is in holdings GQGU also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in GQGU and 247 in THRO.
Which pays a higher dividend, GQGU or THRO?
GQGU yields 1.00% while THRO yields 0.30%, so GQGU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is THRO better than GQGU?
GQGU has a lower expense ratio. THRO led over 1Y and the full window. THRO is less concentrated, with 43.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.