LOWV vs QQQ
AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, LOWV or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. LOWV is less concentrated, with 41.7% 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 | LOWV | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $200M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.86% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 72 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +6.55% | +21.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.55% | +25.89%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.55% | +28.80%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.67% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.8%Best | 17.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.9%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.5 years | $17,267 | $24,701Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.7%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | AllianceBernstein L.P. | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 22, 2023 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2023 to Sep 25, 2026 (3.5 years).
LOWV 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 3.5 years both funds cover.
LOWV vs QQQ Performance
AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF (LOWV) is an ETF from AllianceBernstein L.P. and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year LOWV returned +7.55% while QQQ returned +25.89%. Year to date, LOWV is up 6.55% versus a gain of 21.71% for QQQ.
Over three years, LOWV compounded at +16.55% per year against +28.80% for QQQ. Across the full 4-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +29.48% annualized vs +16.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 9.8% for LOWV. 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 -13.9% for LOWV 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LOWV charges 0.39% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $18 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LOWV currently yields 0.86% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
45.4% of LOWV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 43.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings LOWV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
17 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in LOWV and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 72 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 80 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for LOWV (54.7% of the fund), and 45 for LOWV that do not appear in QQQ (48.9%).
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 LOWV | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 6.27% | 8.44% | 2.17% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.52% | 7.27% | 0.75% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.93% | 5.76% | 0.17% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 5.87% | 3.13% | 2.74% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.71% | 4.67% | 0.96% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.19% | 3.16% | 1.03% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.37% | 2.10% | 0.27% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 0.58% | 2.78% | 2.20% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 1.97% | 0.72% | 1.25% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 1.50% | 0.81% | 0.69% |
45.4% of LOWV 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, LOWV or QQQ?
LOWV has an expense ratio of 0.39% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LOWV or QQQ?
Over the past year LOWV returned +7.55% vs +25.89% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), LOWV annualized +16.89% vs +29.48% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LOWV or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 9.8% for LOWV. Worst drawdown: LOWV -13.9% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both LOWV and QQQ?
LOWV and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 LOWV and QQQ?
45.4% of LOWV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 43.5% of QQQ's is in holdings LOWV also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in LOWV and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, LOWV or QQQ?
LOWV yields 0.86% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so LOWV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than LOWV?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. LOWV is less concentrated, with 41.7% 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.