QQQ vs RIGS
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs ALPS Strategic Income Fund
Which is better, QQQ or RIGS?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | RIGS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $63M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 4.86% |
| Holdings | 107 | 82 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | +0.13% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63%Best | +0.45% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15%Best | +4.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16%Best | +1.76% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 4.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -18.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,390Best | $10,912 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | ALPS Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 7, 2013 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 9, 2013 to Sep 10, 2026 (12.9 years).
QQQ vs RIGS 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs RIGS Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ALPS Strategic Income Fund (RIGS) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while RIGS returned +0.45%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a gain of 0.13% for RIGS.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.15% per year against +4.71% for RIGS; over five years the annualized figures are +14.16% and +1.76% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.04% annualized vs +0.91%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 4.6% for RIGS. 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 -18.2% for RIGS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RIGS charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $45 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 4.86% for RIGS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 63 in RIGS, totalling 99.9% and 77.5% 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 63 in RIGS, against full books of 107 and 82.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and RIGS 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 RIGS?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RIGS charges 0.45%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RIGS?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs +0.45% for RIGS, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), QQQ annualized +19.04% vs +0.91% for RIGS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RIGS?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 4.6% for RIGS. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs RIGS -18.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RIGS?
QQQ and RIGS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 RIGS?
QQQ yields 0.44% while RIGS yields 4.86%, so RIGS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RIGS better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.