MDEV vs QQQ
First Trust Indxx Medical Devices ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, MDEV or QQQ?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MDEV is less concentrated, with 25.4% 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 | MDEV | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 53 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -0.14% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.39% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.85% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -5.65% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3%Best | 20.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -42.3% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,477 | $19,407Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.4%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 22, 2021 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 23, 2021 to Sep 4, 2026 (5.2 years).
MDEV 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 5.2 years both funds cover.
MDEV vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Indxx Medical Devices ETF (MDEV) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year MDEV returned +2.39% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, MDEV is down 0.14% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, MDEV compounded at +2.85% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -5.65% and +14.18% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% compared with 19.3% for MDEV. 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 -42.3% for MDEV 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MDEV charges 0.70% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $18 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MDEV currently yields 0.11% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
5.9% of MDEV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings MDEV also owns.
MDEV and QQQ share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in MDEV and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 53 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for MDEV (96.7% of the fund), and 27 for MDEV that do not appear in QQQ (55.6%).
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 MDEV 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, MDEV or QQQ?
MDEV has an expense ratio of 0.70% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MDEV or QQQ?
Over the past year MDEV returned +2.39% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MDEV or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 19.3% for MDEV. Worst drawdown: MDEV -42.3% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both MDEV and QQQ?
MDEV and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 MDEV and QQQ?
5.9% of MDEV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.9% of QQQ's is in holdings MDEV also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in MDEV and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, MDEV or QQQ?
MDEV yields 0.11% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than MDEV?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MDEV is less concentrated, with 25.4% 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.