QQQ vs RBLD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs First Trust Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure ETF
Which is better, QQQ or RBLD?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Value.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. RBLD is less concentrated, with 12.2% 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 | RBLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $42M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 107 | 104 |
| YTD Return | +15.18%Best | +10.24% |
| 1Y Return | +19.65%Best | +12.89% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.60%Best | +17.80% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.94% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -19.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.1 years | $22,796Best | $17,679 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 12.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 13, 2008 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 1, 2022 to Sep 15, 2026 (4.1 years).
QQQ vs RBLD 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 4.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs RBLD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and First Trust Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure ETF (RBLD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while RBLD returned +12.89%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a gain of 10.24% for RBLD.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +17.80% for RBLD. Across the full 4-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +22.26% annualized vs +14.91%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 16.6% for RBLD. 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 -19.1% for RBLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RBLD charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $65 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.98% for RBLD.
Holdings Overlap
2.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings RBLD also owns. 9.3% of RBLD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
RBLD and QQQ share little of their money.
9 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 100 in RBLD, against full books of 107 and 104.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 89 positions for RBLD that do not appear in our book for QQQ (88.5% of the fund), and 87 for QQQ that do not appear in RBLD (94.9%).
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 RBLD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 0.42% | 1.13% | 0.71% |
| CSXCsx Corp. | 0.42% | 1.06% | 0.64% |
| BKRBaker Hughes Co | 0.27% | 1.15% | 0.88% |
| PCARPaccar Inc. | 0.31% | 1.04% | 0.73% |
| HONHoneywell International Inc. | 0.35% | 0.99% | 0.64% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 0.30% | 0.95% | 0.65% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.21% | 0.99% | 0.78% |
| EXCExelon | 0.21% | 0.97% | 0.76% |
| CRWVCoreweave, Inc. | 0.18% | 0.98% | 0.80% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and RBLD 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 RBLD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RBLD charges 0.65%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RBLD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs +12.89% for RBLD, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), QQQ annualized +22.26% vs +14.91% for RBLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RBLD?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 16.6% for RBLD. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs RBLD -19.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RBLD?
QQQ and RBLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 RBLD?
9.3% of RBLD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 9.3% of RBLD's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 100 in RBLD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or RBLD?
QQQ yields 0.44% while RBLD yields 0.98%, so RBLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RBLD better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. RBLD is less concentrated, with 12.2% 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.