QQQ vs RB
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs ProShares Russell 2000 Dynamic Buffer ETF
Which is better, QQQ or RB?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | RB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.58% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.27% |
| Holdings | 107 | 1,963 |
| YTD Return | +17.11%Best | +6.85% |
| 1Y Return | +23.99%Best | +14.49% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.62% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.23% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 3.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0% | -2.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $13,163Best | $11,663 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 24, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 9, 2026 (1.2 years).
QQQ vs RB 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs RB Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ProShares Russell 2000 Dynamic Buffer ETF (RB) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year QQQ returned +23.99% while RB returned +14.49%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.11% versus a gain of 6.85% for RB.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 3.2% for RB. 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -2.1% for RB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RB charges 0.58%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $58 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.27% for RB.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings RB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RB, our book for it covers 86.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and RB share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,949 in RB, against full books of 107 and 1,963.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and RB 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, QQQ or RB?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RB charges 0.58%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RB?
Over the past year QQQ returned +23.99% vs +14.49% for RB, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +25.74% vs +13.68% for RB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RB?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 3.2% for RB. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs RB -2.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RB?
QQQ and RB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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 RB?
At least 3.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings RB also owns. Our book for RB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,949 in RB.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or RB?
QQQ yields 0.44% while RB yields 2.27%, so RB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RB better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.