QQQ vs QTOP
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF
Which is better, QQQ or QTOP?
Nearly the same fund. QQQ costs less.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, QTOP over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.8%.
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 | QTOP |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.20% |
| AUM | $437.3B | $313M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 0.33% |
| Holdings | 208 | 70 |
| YTD Return | +12.98%Best | +12.02% |
| 1Y Return | +11.59%Best | +10.16% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.05% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.74% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1%Best | 21.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -23.3% |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $14,049 | $14,330Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.9%Best | 59.8% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 24, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 24, 2024 to Nov 11, 2026 (2 years).
QQQ vs QTOP 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 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs QTOP Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF (QTOP) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% while QTOP returned +10.16%. Year to date, QQQ is up 12.98% versus a gain of 12.02% for QTOP.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QTOP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 19.1% 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -23.3% for QTOP. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while QTOP charges 0.20%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $20 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.43% against 0.33% for QTOP.
Holdings Overlap
75.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings QTOP also owns. 98.6% of QTOP's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QTOP is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
30 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 32 in QTOP, against full books of 208 and 70.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for QTOP that do not appear in our book for QQQ (0.1% of the fund), and 64 for QQQ that do not appear in QTOP (21.4%).
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 QTOP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.05% | 10.61% | 2.56% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 7.68% | 9.95% | 2.27% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.16% | 7.88% | 1.72% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.47% | 5.66% | 1.19% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.90% | 5.24% | 1.34% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.23% | 4.25% | 0.02% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.37% | 4.47% | 1.10% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.15% | 4.06% | 0.91% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.93% | 3.93% | 1.00% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.93% | 3.78% | 0.85% |
98.6% of QTOP 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 QTOP?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while QTOP charges 0.20%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or QTOP?
Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% vs +10.16% for QTOP, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +18.53% vs +19.71% for QTOP. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or QTOP?
QTOP has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 19.1% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs QTOP -23.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and QTOP?
QQQ and QTOP have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and QTOP?
98.6% of QTOP's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 98.6% of QTOP's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 32 in QTOP.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or QTOP?
QQQ yields 0.43% while QTOP yields 0.33%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QTOP better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, QTOP over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.