QQQ vs QQXT
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund
Which is better, QQQ or QQXT?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQXT is less concentrated, with 22.9% 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 | QQQ | QQXT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.57% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $152M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.20% |
| Holdings | 107 | 110 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | +0.03% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | +1.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +6.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | +3.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 17.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -57.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $11,711 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 22.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 8, 2007 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 15, 2007 to Sep 11, 2026 (19.6 years).
QQQ vs QQXT 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs QQXT Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while QQXT returned +1.40%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 0.03% for QQXT.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +6.60% for QQXT; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +3.21% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.39% annualized vs +8.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 17.0% for QQXT. 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -57.5% for QQXT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while QQXT charges 0.57%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $57 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.20% for QQXT.
Holdings Overlap
31.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings QQXT also owns. 97.6% of QQXT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQXT is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
53 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 54 in QQXT, against full books of 107 and 110.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for QQXT that do not appear in our book for QQQ (0.0% of the fund), and 44 for QQQ that do not appear in QQXT (65.7%).
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 QQQ | Weight in QQXT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 1.74% | 2.93% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.56% | 1.53% | 1.03% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 2.41% | 1.64% | 0.77% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.10% | 1.66% | 0.44% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 1.84% | 1.79% | 0.05% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.97% | 2.31% | 1.34% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 1.37% | 1.71% | 0.34% |
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 0.70% | 2.15% | 1.45% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.47% | 2.34% | 1.87% |
| LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.00% | 1.78% | 0.78% |
97.6% of QQXT 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, QQQ or QQXT?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while QQXT charges 0.57%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or QQXT?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +1.40% for QQXT, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QQQ annualized +15.39% vs +8.75% for QQXT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or QQXT?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 17.0% for QQXT. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs QQXT -57.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and QQXT?
QQQ and QQXT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 QQQ and QQXT?
97.6% of QQXT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 97.6% of QQXT's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 53 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 54 in QQXT.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or QQXT?
QQQ yields 0.44% while QQXT yields 1.20%, so QQXT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQXT better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQXT is less concentrated, with 22.9% 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.