LST vs QQQ
Leuthold Select Industries ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, LST or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. LST led over 1Y and the full window. LST is less concentrated, with 18.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.
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 | LST | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $207M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.15% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 122 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +17.64%Best | +11.46% |
| 1Y Return | +22.35%Best | +8.26% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9%Best | 20.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.5%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $13,751Best | $13,129 |
| Top 10 Weight | 18.9%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | Leuthold Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2000 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 21, 2025 to Nov 2, 2026 (1.8 years).
LST 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
LST vs QQQ Performance
Leuthold Select Industries ETF (LST) is an ETF from Leuthold Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year LST returned +22.35% while QQQ returned +8.26%. Year to date, LST is up 17.64% versus a gain of 11.46% 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 20.2% compared with 13.9% for LST. 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 -19.5% for LST 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LST charges 0.65% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $18 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LST currently yields 1.15% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
20.7% of LST's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 35.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings LST also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in LST and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 122 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 76 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for LST (61.3% of the fund), and 84 for LST that do not appear in QQQ (66.9%).
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 LST | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 1.12% | 8.33% | 7.21% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.06% | 5.76% | 3.70% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.21% | 4.17% | 1.96% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 2.07% | 3.05% | 0.98% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.85% | 3.26% | 1.41% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.69% | 1.77% | 0.08% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.92% | 2.53% | 1.61% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 0.91% | 1.72% | 0.81% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 1.12% | 0.95% | 0.17% |
| GILDGilead Sciences Inc | 1.07% | 0.77% | 0.30% |
35.9% of QQQ is already inside LST.
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, LST or QQQ?
LST has an expense ratio of 0.65% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LST or QQQ?
Over the past year LST returned +22.35% vs +8.26% for QQQ, so LST leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), LST annualized +19.36% vs +16.33% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LST or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.2% annualized versus 13.9% for LST. Worst drawdown: LST -19.5% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both LST and QQQ?
LST and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 LST and QQQ?
35.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings LST also owns. 35.9% of QQQ's is in holdings LST also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in LST and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, LST or QQQ?
LST yields 1.15% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so LST currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than LST?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. LST led over 1Y and the full window. LST is less concentrated, with 18.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.