NSEP vs QQQ
Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - September vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, NSEP or QQQ?
Option Writing against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91.
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 | NSEP | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $84M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 18 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +11.35% | +22.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.29% | +24.33%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +29.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.9%Best | 18.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.3%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $13,487 | $16,505Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 31, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026 (2.1 years).
NSEP 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
NSEP vs QQQ Performance
Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - September (NSEP) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year NSEP returned +13.29% while QQQ returned +24.33%. Year to date, NSEP is up 11.35% versus a gain of 22.67% 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 18.1% compared with 6.9% for NSEP. 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 -12.3% for NSEP 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NSEP charges 0.79% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $18 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NSEP currently yields 0.00% against 0.42% for QQQ.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NSEP 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, NSEP or QQQ?
NSEP has an expense ratio of 0.79% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NSEP or QQQ?
Over the past year NSEP returned +13.29% vs +24.33% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NSEP annualized +15.31% vs +26.95% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NSEP or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 6.9% for NSEP. Worst drawdown: NSEP -12.3% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both NSEP and QQQ?
NSEP and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, NSEP or QQQ?
NSEP yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than NSEP?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.