LEAD vs QQQ
Siren DIVCON Leaders Dividend ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, LEAD or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. LEAD led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. LEAD is less concentrated, with 42.3% 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 | LEAD | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.43% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $72M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.55% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 54 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7%Best | 18.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.2%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 10.5 years | $38,396 | $68,423Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.3%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | SRN Advisors | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 6, 2016 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 65 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. LEAD has data through Jul 14, 2026 and QQQ through Sep 17, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 10.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 6, 2016 to Jul 14, 2026 (10.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 15.7% for LEAD. 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 -32.2% for LEAD 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LEAD charges 0.43% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $43 vs $18 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LEAD currently yields 0.55% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
35.1% of LEAD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 32.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings LEAD also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 97 days apart, LEAD as of Apr 30, 2026 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.
13 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in LEAD and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 54 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 83 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for LEAD (65.3% of the fund), and 39 for LEAD that do not appear in QQQ (63.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in LEAD | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.34% | 8.44% | 3.10% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.55% | 3.16% | 3.39% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.75% | 7.27% | 5.52% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.37% | 5.76% | 4.39% |
| KLACKla Corp | 5.34% | 1.11% | 4.23% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 4.11% | 1.84% | 2.27% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 2.37% | 1.86% | 0.51% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 2.19% | 0.81% | 1.38% |
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 2.13% | 0.29% | 1.84% |
| CTASCintas Corp. | 1.69% | 0.35% | 1.34% |
35.1% of LEAD is already inside QQQ.
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, LEAD or QQQ?
LEAD has an expense ratio of 0.43% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, LEAD or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 15.7% for LEAD. Worst drawdown: LEAD -32.2% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both LEAD and QQQ?
LEAD and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 LEAD and QQQ?
35.1% of LEAD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 32.3% of QQQ's is in holdings LEAD also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in LEAD and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, LEAD or QQQ?
LEAD yields 0.55% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so LEAD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than LEAD?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. LEAD led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. LEAD is less concentrated, with 42.3% 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.