QLC vs QQQ
Northern Trust US Quality Large Cap ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, QLC or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QLC led over 5Y, QQQ over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. QLC is less concentrated, with 37.3% 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 | QLC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 181 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +12.51% | +15.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.74% | +22.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.50% | +24.15%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.35%Best | +14.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4%Best | 18.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.9% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,552Best | $19,390 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.3%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 23, 2015 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 24, 2015 to Sep 10, 2026 (11 years).
QLC 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 11 years both funds cover.
QLC vs QQQ Performance
Northern Trust US Quality Large Cap ETF (QLC) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year QLC returned +20.74% while QQQ returned +22.63%. Year to date, QLC is up 12.51% versus a gain of 15.86% for QQQ.
Over three years, QLC compounded at +23.50% per year against +24.15% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +14.35% and +14.16% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.50% annualized vs +14.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 16.4% for QLC. 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 -35.9% for QLC 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLC charges 0.25% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $18 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLC currently yields 0.91% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
47.4% of QLC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 70.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings QLC also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside QLC. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
37 positions in common, counted across the 177 positions we hold weights for in QLC and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 181 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 58 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for QLC (26.4% of the fund), and 134 for QLC that do not appear in QQQ (50.7%).
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 QLC | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.64% | 8.44% | 0.80% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.92% | 7.27% | 0.35% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.34% | 5.76% | 1.42% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.81% | 3.36% | 0.45% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.46% | 4.67% | 2.21% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.39% | 3.13% | 0.26% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.03% | 3.16% | 0.13% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.17% | 4.43% | 3.26% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.41% | 2.78% | 1.37% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 0.64% | 3.45% | 2.81% |
70.6% of QQQ is already inside QLC.
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, QLC or QQQ?
QLC has an expense ratio of 0.25% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QLC or QQQ?
Over the past year QLC returned +20.74% vs +22.63% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QLC annualized +14.19% vs +19.50% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QLC or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 16.4% for QLC. Worst drawdown: QLC -35.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both QLC and QQQ?
QLC and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 QLC and QQQ?
70.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings QLC also owns. 70.6% of QQQ's is in holdings QLC also owns. They hold 37 positions in common, counted across the 177 positions we hold weights for in QLC and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, QLC or QQQ?
QLC yields 0.91% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QLC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than QLC?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QLC led over 5Y, QQQ over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. QLC is less concentrated, with 37.3% 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.