HELS vs QQQ
Hedgeye 130/30 Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, HELS or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. HELS is less concentrated, with 39.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.
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 | HELS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $437.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.02% | 0.43% |
| Holdings | 51 | 208 |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.8%Best | 46.9% |
| Fund Family | Hedgeye Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
The two price series end 22 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. HELS has data through Oct 20, 2026 and QQQ through Nov 11, 2026.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HELS charges 0.70% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $18 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HELS currently yields 0.02% against 0.43% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
30.1% of HELS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 41.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings HELS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 88 positions we hold weights for in HELS and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 51 and 208.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 77 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for HELS (56.6% of the fund), and 36 for HELS that do not appear in QQQ (73.5%).
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 HELS | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple Inc | 4.63% | 7.68% | 3.05% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.99% | 8.05% | 5.06% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.67% | 6.16% | 2.49% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.95% | 3.37% | 0.42% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.99% | 4.23% | 2.24% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc. | 2.22% | 1.96% | 0.26% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 1.82% | 2.13% | 0.31% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 2.15% | 1.06% | 1.09% |
| SHOP:CAShopify Inc | 2.29% | 0.91% | 1.38% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Inc | 2.06% | 0.90% | 1.16% |
41.5% of QQQ is already inside HELS.
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, HELS or QQQ?
HELS has an expense ratio of 0.70% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between HELS and QQQ?
41.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings HELS also owns. 41.5% of QQQ's is in holdings HELS also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 88 positions we hold weights for in HELS and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, HELS or QQQ?
HELS yields 0.02% while QQQ yields 0.43%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than HELS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. HELS is less concentrated, with 39.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.