QQQ vs RLY
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street Multi-Asset Real Return ETF
Which is better, QQQ or RLY?
Large Cap Growth against Tactical Allocation.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.9%.
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 | RLY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.93% |
| Holdings | 107 | 12 |
| YTD Return | +21.71%Best | +16.89% |
| 1Y Return | +25.89%Best | +23.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.80%Best | +14.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.67%Best | +10.76% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 12.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -46.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,706Best | $16,669 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 99.9% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Tactical Allocation |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 25, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2012 to Sep 25, 2026 (14.4 years).
QQQ vs RLY 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 RLY Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street Multi-Asset Real Return ETF (RLY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% while RLY returned +23.31%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.71% versus a gain of 16.89% for RLY.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +28.80% per year against +14.46% for RLY; over five years the annualized figures are +15.67% and +10.76% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.47% annualized vs +3.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 12.5% for RLY. 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 -46.2% for RLY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RLY charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $50 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.93% for RLY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 12 in RLY, 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 12 in RLY, against full books of 107 and 12.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 102 and 12 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 96 positions RLY does not, 97.5% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.44%, AAPL 7.27%, MSFT 5.76%, AMZN 4.67%, MU 4.43%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and RLY 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 RLY?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RLY charges 0.50%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RLY?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% vs +23.31% for RLY, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), QQQ annualized +18.47% vs +3.39% for RLY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RLY?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 12.5% for RLY. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs RLY -46.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RLY?
QQQ and RLY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 RLY?
QQQ yields 0.44% while RLY yields 2.93%, so RLY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RLY better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.