QQQ vs ROBO
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF
Which is better, QQQ or ROBO?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROBO is less concentrated, with 18.1% 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 | ROBO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $2.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.36% |
| Holdings | 107 | 80 |
| YTD Return | +15.18%Best | +9.25% |
| 1Y Return | +19.65%Best | +18.82% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.60%Best | +14.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.94%Best | +2.26% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0%Best | 21.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -43.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,204Best | $11,182 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 18.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Robo Global |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 22, 2013 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2013 to Sep 15, 2026 (12.9 years).
QQQ vs ROBO 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 12.9 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs ROBO Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO) is an ETF from Robo Global. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while ROBO returned +18.82%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a gain of 9.25% for ROBO.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +14.37% for ROBO; over five years the annualized figures are +13.94% and +2.26% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.39% annualized vs +9.23%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ROBO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.5% compared with 18.0% 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 -43.6% for ROBO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while ROBO charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $95 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.36% for ROBO.
Holdings Overlap
13.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings ROBO also owns. 10.4% of ROBO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
QQQ and ROBO share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 79 in ROBO, against full books of 107 and 80.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 26 positions for ROBO that do not appear in our book for QQQ (34.4% of the fund), and 88 for QQQ that do not appear in ROBO (84.2%).
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 ROBO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 1.50% | 6.94% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.56% | 1.07% | 1.49% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc. | 0.58% | 1.66% | 1.08% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 0.27% | 1.58% | 1.31% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.73% | 1.08% | 0.35% |
| ADSKAutodesk, Inc. | 0.22% | 1.45% | 1.23% |
| CDNSCadence Design Systems Inc. | 0.41% | 1.09% | 0.68% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 0.19% | 0.97% | 0.78% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and ROBO 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 ROBO?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while ROBO charges 0.95%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or ROBO?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs +18.82% for ROBO, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), QQQ annualized +18.39% vs +9.23% for ROBO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or ROBO?
ROBO has been the more volatile fund at 21.5% annualized versus 18.0% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs ROBO -43.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and ROBO?
QQQ and ROBO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 ROBO?
13.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings ROBO also owns. 10.4% of ROBO's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 79 in ROBO.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or ROBO?
QQQ yields 0.44% while ROBO yields 0.36%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ROBO better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROBO is less concentrated, with 18.1% 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.