QQQ vs RETL
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X ETF
Which is better, QQQ or RETL?
Large Cap Growth against Trading-Leveraged Equity.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RETL is less concentrated, with 39.4% 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 | RETL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.96% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $25M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.56% |
| Holdings | 107 | 82 |
| YTD Return | +15.18%Best | -20.87% |
| 1Y Return | +19.65%Best | -29.28% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.60%Best | +8.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.94%Best | -28.29% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5%Best | 70.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -92.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,204Best | $1,896 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 39.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Trading-Leveraged Equity |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jul 14, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2010 to Sep 15, 2026 (16.2 years).
QQQ vs RETL 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 16.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs RETL Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X ETF (RETL) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while RETL returned -29.28%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a loss of 20.87% for RETL.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +8.63% for RETL; over five years the annualized figures are +13.94% and -28.29% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.69% annualized vs +11.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RETL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 70.4% compared with 17.5% 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -92.0% for RETL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RETL charges 0.96%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $96 annually, a gap of $78 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.56% for RETL.
Holdings Overlap
9.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings RETL also owns. 4.8% of RETL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
QQQ and RETL share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 77 in RETL, against full books of 107 and 82.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 71 positions for RETL that do not appear in our book for QQQ (94.7% of the fund), and 91 for QQQ that do not appear in RETL (87.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and RETL 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 RETL?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RETL charges 0.96%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $78 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RETL?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs -29.28% for RETL, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), QQQ annualized +18.69% vs +11.66% for RETL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RETL?
RETL has been the more volatile fund at 70.4% annualized versus 17.5% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs RETL -92.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RETL?
QQQ and RETL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 RETL?
9.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings RETL also owns. 4.8% of RETL's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 77 in RETL.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or RETL?
QQQ yields 0.44% while RETL yields 0.56%, so RETL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RETL better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RETL is less concentrated, with 39.4% 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.