QQQ vs QUS
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF
Which is better, QQQ or QUS?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QUS has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QUS is less concentrated, with 22.0% 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 | QUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.15%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.25% |
| Holdings | 107 | 529 |
| YTD Return | +15.21%Best | +9.92% |
| 1Y Return | +19.78%Best | +14.56% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.58%Best | +17.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.93%Best | +10.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -33.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,195Best | $16,572 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 22.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 15, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 16, 2015 to Sep 16, 2026 (11.4 years).
QQQ vs QUS 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 11.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs QUS Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% while QUS returned +14.56%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.21% versus a gain of 9.92% for QUS.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.58% per year against +17.00% for QUS; over five years the annualized figures are +13.93% and +10.63% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.22% annualized vs +11.44%.
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 13.9% for QUS. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -33.8% for QUS. 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
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while QUS charges 0.15%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $15 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.25% for QUS.
Holdings Overlap
95.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings QUS also owns. 38.6% of QUS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside QUS. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
93 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 513 in QUS, against full books of 107 and 529.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 386 positions for QUS that do not appear in our book for QQQ (59.9% of the fund), and 3 for QQQ that do not appear in QUS (1.6%).
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 QUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 2.74% | 5.70% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 3.02% | 4.25% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 3.64% | 2.12% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 1.00% | 3.67% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 2.07% | 0.71% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 0.37% | 4.06% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 1.28% | 2.08% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 1.14% | 1.99% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 0.31% | 3.14% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 0.49% | 2.67% |
95.9% of QQQ is already inside QUS.
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 QUS?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while QUS charges 0.15%. QUS is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or QUS?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% vs +14.56% for QUS, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QQQ annualized +18.22% vs +11.44% for QUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or QUS?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 13.9% for QUS. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs QUS -33.8%.
Should I hold both QQQ and QUS?
QQQ and QUS 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 QQQ and QUS?
95.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings QUS also owns. 38.6% of QUS's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 93 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 513 in QUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or QUS?
QQQ yields 0.44% while QUS yields 1.25%, so QUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QUS better than QQQ?
QUS has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QUS is less concentrated, with 22.0% 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.