QQQ vs RFG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Invesco S&P Midcap 400 Pure Growth ETF
Which is better, QQQ or RFG?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RFG is less concentrated, with 20.6% 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 | RFG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $339M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.15% |
| Holdings | 107 | 100 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | +10.33% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | +14.21% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +14.15% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24%Best | +6.18% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6%Best | 19.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5% | -52.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,324Best | $13,496 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 20.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 1, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 7, 2006 to Sep 18, 2026 (20.5 years).
QQQ vs RFG 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 20.5 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs RFG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco S&P Midcap 400 Pure Growth ETF (RFG) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while RFG returned +14.21%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 10.33% for RFG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +14.15% for RFG; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and +6.18% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.19% annualized vs +9.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 18.6% 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -52.0% for RFG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RFG charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $35 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.15% for RFG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 101 in RFG, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 101 in RFG, against full books of 107 and 100.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for RFG that do not appear in our book for QQQ (95.2% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in RFG (97.5%).
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 RFG 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 RFG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RFG charges 0.35%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RFG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +14.21% for RFG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), QQQ annualized +15.19% vs +9.06% for RFG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RFG?
RFG has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 18.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs RFG -52.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RFG?
QQQ and RFG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or RFG?
QQQ yields 0.44% while RFG yields 0.15%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RFG better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RFG is less concentrated, with 20.6% 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.