QQQ vs QWLD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR MSCI World StrategicFactors ETF
Which is better, QQQ or QWLD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QWLD is less concentrated, with 17.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | QWLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.30% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $174M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 1.75% |
| Holdings | 321 | 1,281 |
| YTD Return | +22.67%Best | +8.95% |
| 1Y Return | +24.33%Best | +12.15% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.05%Best | +18.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.00%Best | +10.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -31.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,924Best | $16,572 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 17.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 4, 2014 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 5, 2014 to Oct 2, 2026 (12.3 years).
QQQ vs QWLD 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 12.3 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs QWLD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR MSCI World StrategicFactors ETF (QWLD) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% while QWLD returned +12.15%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.67% versus a gain of 8.95% for QWLD.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +29.05% per year against +18.01% for QWLD; over five years the annualized figures are +17.00% and +10.63% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.84% annualized vs +8.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 12.6% for QWLD. 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 -31.9% for QWLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while QWLD charges 0.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $30 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 1.75% for QWLD.
Holdings Overlap
96.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings QWLD also owns. 27.5% of QWLD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside QWLD. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
93 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,197 in QWLD, against full books of 321 and 1,281.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 377 positions for QWLD that do not appear in our book for QQQ (40.5% of the fund), and 6 for QQQ that do not appear in QWLD (2.7%).
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 QWLD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.45% | 2.38% | 6.07% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.80% | 2.54% | 5.26% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.88% | 3.00% | 2.88% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.07% | 1.97% | 1.10% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.85% | 0.14% | 4.71% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.41% | 0.53% | 3.88% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.74% | 1.62% | 1.12% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.15% | 1.06% | 2.09% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.93% | 0.94% | 1.99% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.71% | 0.14% | 3.57% |
96.1% of QQQ is already inside QWLD.
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 QWLD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while QWLD charges 0.30%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or QWLD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% vs +12.15% for QWLD, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), QQQ annualized +18.84% vs +8.90% for QWLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or QWLD?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 12.6% for QWLD. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs QWLD -31.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and QWLD?
QQQ and QWLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 QWLD?
96.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings QWLD also owns. 27.5% of QWLD'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 1,197 in QWLD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or QWLD?
QQQ yields 0.42% while QWLD yields 1.75%, so QWLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QWLD better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QWLD is less concentrated, with 17.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.