JAPN vs QQQ
Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, JAPN or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% 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 | JAPN | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.24% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 36 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -0.31% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | -10.04% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.3%Best | 19.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.9% | -12.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $10,263 | $13,900Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Horizon Kinetics LLC | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 12, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 13, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.3 years).
JAPN 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
JAPN vs QQQ Performance
Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF (JAPN) is an ETF from Horizon Kinetics LLC and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year JAPN returned -10.04% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, JAPN is down 0.31% versus a gain of 17.95% 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 19.4% compared with 16.3% for JAPN. 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 -23.9% for JAPN and -12.0% 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 0.01. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JAPN charges 0.85% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $18 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JAPN currently yields 0.24% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 33 holdings in JAPN and 102 in QQQ, totalling 96.5% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in JAPN and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 36 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for JAPN (97.5% of the fund), and 0 for JAPN that do not appear in QQQ (0.0%).
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 JAPN 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, JAPN or QQQ?
JAPN has an expense ratio of 0.85% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JAPN or QQQ?
Over the past year JAPN returned -10.04% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), JAPN annualized +2.02% vs +28.83% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JAPN or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 16.3% for JAPN. Worst drawdown: JAPN -23.9% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both JAPN and QQQ?
JAPN and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.01, 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, JAPN or QQQ?
JAPN yields 0.24% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than JAPN?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% 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.