HQGO vs QQQ
Hartford US Quality Growth ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, HQGO or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. HQGO is less concentrated, with 37.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | HQGO | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $50M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.45% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 192 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +14.20% | +24.01%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.07% | +25.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +28.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.56% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.6%Best | 16.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -20.9%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $17,307 | $19,835Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.5%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | Hartford Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 5, 2023 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 6, 2023 to Oct 7, 2026 (2.8 years).
HQGO 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
HQGO vs QQQ Performance
Hartford US Quality Growth ETF (HQGO) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year HQGO returned +16.07% while QQQ returned +25.94%. Year to date, HQGO is up 14.20% versus a gain of 24.01% 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 16.7% compared with 12.6% for HQGO. 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 -20.9% for HQGO and -22.8% 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HQGO charges 0.34% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $18 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HQGO currently yields 0.45% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
56.2% of HQGO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 76.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings HQGO also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside HQGO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
50 positions in common, counted across the 190 positions we hold weights for in HQGO and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 192 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 46 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for HQGO (21.7% of the fund), and 138 for HQGO that do not appear in QQQ (43.5%).
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 HQGO | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.33% | 8.45% | 3.12% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.47% | 7.80% | 2.33% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.64% | 5.88% | 1.24% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.55% | 4.41% | 0.14% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.83% | 3.15% | 1.68% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.09% | 4.85% | 2.76% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.46% | 2.74% | 0.72% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.22% | 3.71% | 1.49% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.76% | 3.07% | 0.31% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.10% | 2.92% | 0.82% |
76.0% of QQQ is already inside HQGO.
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, HQGO or QQQ?
HQGO has an expense ratio of 0.34% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HQGO or QQQ?
Over the past year HQGO returned +16.07% vs +25.94% 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, HQGO or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 12.6% for HQGO. Worst drawdown: HQGO -20.9% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both HQGO and QQQ?
HQGO and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between HQGO and QQQ?
76.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings HQGO also owns. 76.0% of QQQ's is in holdings HQGO also owns. They hold 50 positions in common, counted across the 190 positions we hold weights for in HQGO and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, HQGO or QQQ?
HQGO yields 0.45% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so HQGO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than HQGO?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. HQGO is less concentrated, with 37.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.