LIFT vs QQQ
LifeX 2028 Income Bucket ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, LIFT or QQQ?
Intermediate Term Bond against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | LIFT | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 40.51% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 22 | 321 |
| YTD Return | -27.58% | +22.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | -26.82% | +23.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +27.53% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.67% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.5%Best | 21.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -27.7% | -12.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $7,417 | $12,547Best |
| Fund Family | Stone Ridge Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 24, 2025 to Oct 9, 2026 (1 years).
LIFT 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 years both funds cover.
LIFT vs QQQ Performance
LifeX 2028 Income Bucket ETF (LIFT) is an ETF from Stone Ridge Asset Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year LIFT returned -26.82% while QQQ returned +23.60%. Year to date, LIFT is down 27.58% versus a gain of 22.95% 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 21.0% compared with 5.5% for LIFT. 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 -27.7% for LIFT 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 -0.09. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LIFT charges 0.25% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $18 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LIFT currently yields 40.51% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 9 holdings in LIFT and 102 in QQQ, totalling 41.9% 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 9 positions we hold weights for in LIFT and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 22 and 321.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LIFT 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, LIFT or QQQ?
LIFT has an expense ratio of 0.25% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LIFT or QQQ?
Over the past year LIFT returned -26.82% vs +23.60% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), LIFT annualized -25.83% vs +25.47% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LIFT or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 5.5% for LIFT. Worst drawdown: LIFT -27.7% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both LIFT and QQQ?
LIFT and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of -0.09, 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, LIFT or QQQ?
LIFT yields 40.51% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so LIFT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than LIFT?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.