HWAY vs QQQ
Themes US Infrastructure ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, HWAY or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. HWAY led over 1Y and the full window. HWAY is less concentrated, with 42.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | HWAY | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $4M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.05% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 197 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0% | 19.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -25.8% | -22.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $15,378Best | $14,500 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.8%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Themes ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 11, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 45 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. HWAY has data through Jul 28, 2026 and QQQ through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 12, 2024 to Jul 28, 2026 (1.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HWAY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 19.7% 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 -25.8% for HWAY 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HWAY charges 0.29% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $18 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HWAY currently yields 1.05% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
7.7% of HWAY's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings HWAY also owns.
HWAY and QQQ share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in HWAY and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 197 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for HWAY (96.4% of the fund), and 95 for HWAY that do not appear in QQQ (87.4%).
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 HWAY 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, HWAY or QQQ?
HWAY has an expense ratio of 0.29% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, HWAY or QQQ?
HWAY has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 19.7% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: HWAY -25.8% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both HWAY and QQQ?
HWAY and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 HWAY and QQQ?
7.7% of HWAY's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.7% of QQQ's is in holdings HWAY also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in HWAY and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, HWAY or QQQ?
HWAY yields 1.05% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so HWAY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than HWAY?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. HWAY led over 1Y and the full window. HWAY is less concentrated, with 42.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.