GUG vs QQQ
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GUG or QQQ?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
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 | GUG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.22% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $540M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.68% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 1,262 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +1.47% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.30% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.16% | +25.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4%Best | 21.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.8%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $11,311 | $18,583Best |
| Fund Family | Guggenheim Investments | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2021 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 24, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (4.8 years).
GUG 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
GUG vs QQQ Performance
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund (GUG) is an ETF from Guggenheim Investments and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GUG returned +2.30% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, GUG is up 1.47% versus a gain of 17.95% for QQQ.
Over three years, GUG compounded at +11.16% per year against +25.63% 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 21.0% compared with 15.4% for GUG. 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 -32.8% for GUG 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GUG charges 2.22% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $222 vs $18 annually, a gap of $204 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GUG currently yields 8.68% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings GUG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GUG, our book for it covers 62.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 248 days apart, GUG as of Nov 30, 2025 and QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 777 positions we hold weights for in GUG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1,262 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GUG 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, GUG or QQQ?
GUG has an expense ratio of 2.22% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $204 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GUG or QQQ?
Over the past year GUG returned +2.30% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GUG or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 15.4% for GUG. Worst drawdown: GUG -32.8% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both GUG and QQQ?
GUG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, GUG or QQQ?
GUG yields 8.68% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so GUG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GUG?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.