QHDG vs QQQ
Innovator Hedged Nasdaq-100 ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, QHDG or QQQ?
Market Neutral Strategy against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QHDG is less concentrated, with 46.4% 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 | QHDG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 106 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.8%Best | 18.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.3%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $12,106 | $15,313Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.4%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Market Neutral Strategy | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 19, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 63 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. QHDG has data through Jul 10, 2026 and QQQ through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 20, 2024 to Jul 10, 2026 (1.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 8.8% for QHDG. 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 -15.3% for QHDG 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QHDG 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, QHDG currently yields 0.00% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
96.2% of QHDG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 94.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings QHDG also owns.
Most of QHDG is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, QHDG as of Mar 31, 2026 and QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
92 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QHDG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 106 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 10 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for QHDG (5.3% of the fund), and 7 for QHDG that do not appear in QQQ (1.1%).
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 QHDG | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.56% | 8.44% | 0.12% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.53% | 7.27% | 0.26% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.50% | 5.76% | 0.26% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.53% | 4.67% | 0.14% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.48% | 3.36% | 0.12% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.30% | 4.43% | 2.13% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 3.81% | 2.56% | 1.25% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.22% | 3.13% | 0.09% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 3.44% | 2.78% | 0.66% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.98% | 3.16% | 0.18% |
96.2% of QHDG is already inside QQQ.
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, QHDG or QQQ?
QHDG 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 is riskier, QHDG or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 8.8% for QHDG. Worst drawdown: QHDG -15.3% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both QHDG and QQQ?
QHDG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 QHDG and QQQ?
96.2% of QHDG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 94.6% of QQQ's is in holdings QHDG also owns. They hold 92 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QHDG and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, QHDG or QQQ?
QHDG yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than QHDG?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QHDG is less concentrated, with 46.4% 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.