MID vs QQQ
American Century Mid Cap Growth Impact ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, MID or QQQ?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.3%.
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 | MID | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $104M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.14% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 35 | 321 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 20.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.1% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 6.2 years | $18,302 | $29,603Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.3% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | American Century Investments | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 15, 2020 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 14 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. MID has data through Oct 9, 2026 and QQQ through Oct 23, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 6.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 15, 2020 to Oct 9, 2026 (6.2 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MID has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 20.2% for QQQ. 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 -40.1% for MID 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MID 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, MID currently yields 0.14% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
18.4% of MID's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings MID also owns.
MID and QQQ share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in MID and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 35 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 88 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for MID (95.9% of the fund), and 25 for MID that do not appear in QQQ (74.8%).
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 MID | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 5.47% | 0.28% | 5.19% |
| CDNSCadence Design Systems Inc. | 4.76% | 0.38% | 4.38% |
| ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 3.14% | 0.14% | 3.00% |
| IDXXIdexx Laboratories Inc Common Stock Usd 0.1 | 2.24% | 0.17% | 2.07% |
| DXCMDexcom Inc. | 1.51% | 0.14% | 1.37% |
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 1.31% | 0.14% | 1.17% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MID 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, MID or QQQ?
MID 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 is riskier, MID or QQQ?
MID has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 20.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: MID -40.1% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both MID and QQQ?
MID and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 MID and QQQ?
18.4% of MID's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.3% of QQQ's is in holdings MID also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in MID and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, MID or QQQ?
MID yields 0.14% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than MID?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.