QLDY vs QQQ
Defiance Nasdaq 100 LightningSpread Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, QLDY 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 1.00.
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 | QLDY | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.04% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $53M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 41.67% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 14 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +21.92% | +24.32%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.28% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +28.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.4% | 21.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.8% | -12.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $12,360 | $12,688Best |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 17, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 18, 2025 to Oct 6, 2026 (1 years).
QLDY 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 1 years both funds cover.
QLDY vs QQQ Performance
Defiance Nasdaq 100 LightningSpread Income ETF (QLDY) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year QLDY returned +22.28% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, QLDY is up 21.92% versus a gain of 24.32% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QLDY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.4% compared with 21.0% 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 -14.8% for QLDY and -12.0% 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 1.00. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLDY charges 1.04% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $104 vs $18 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLDY currently yields 41.67% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2 holdings in QLDY and 102 in QQQ, totalling 3.8% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 2 positions we hold weights for in QLDY and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 14 and 321.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QLDY 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, QLDY or QQQ?
QLDY has an expense ratio of 1.04% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QLDY or QQQ?
Over the past year QLDY returned +22.28% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QLDY annualized +23.60% vs +26.88% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QLDY or QQQ?
QLDY has been the more volatile fund at 25.4% annualized versus 21.0% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QLDY -14.8% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both QLDY and QQQ?
QLDY and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, 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, QLDY or QQQ?
QLDY yields 41.67% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QLDY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than QLDY?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.