NLR vs QQQ
VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, NLR or QQQ?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. NLR led over 5Y, QQQ over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%.
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 | NLR | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.66% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 26 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -20.16% | +21.16%Best |
| 1Y Return | -19.81% | +24.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.99% | +27.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.33%Best | +15.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.8% | 19.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -65.0% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,235Best | $20,430 |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.9% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2007 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 15, 2007 to Sep 24, 2026 (19.1 years).
NLR 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 19.1 years both funds cover.
NLR vs QQQ Performance
VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF (NLR) is an ETF from VanEck and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year NLR returned -19.81% while QQQ returned +24.78%. Year to date, NLR is down 20.16% versus a gain of 21.16% for QQQ.
Over three years, NLR compounded at +15.99% per year against +27.95% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +17.33% and +15.36% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.86% annualized vs +3.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NLR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.8% compared with 19.0% 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 -65.0% for NLR and -53.5% 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NLR charges 0.52% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $18 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NLR currently yields 2.66% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
9.0% of NLR's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings NLR also owns.
NLR and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in NLR and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 26 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for NLR (97.1% of the fund), and 9 for NLR that do not appear in QQQ (35.3%).
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 NLR | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 9.02% | 0.42% | 8.60% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NLR 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, NLR or QQQ?
NLR has an expense ratio of 0.52% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NLR or QQQ?
Over the past year NLR returned -19.81% vs +24.78% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), NLR annualized +3.26% vs +15.86% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NLR or QQQ?
NLR has been the more volatile fund at 23.8% annualized versus 19.0% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: NLR -65.0% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both NLR and QQQ?
NLR and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 NLR and QQQ?
9.0% of NLR's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.4% of QQQ's is in holdings NLR also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in NLR and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, NLR or QQQ?
NLR yields 2.66% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so NLR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than NLR?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. NLR led over 5Y, QQQ over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.