QQQ vs ROBT
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF
Which is better, QQQ or ROBT?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROBT is less concentrated, with 17.9% 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 | ROBT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $486.1B | $788M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.02% |
| Holdings | 107 | 244 |
| YTD Return | +17.44%Best | +10.28% |
| 1Y Return | +24.69%Best | +12.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.76%Best | +11.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.22%Best | +0.65% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.2%Best | 23.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -44.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,441Best | $10,329 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 17.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 21, 2018 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 22, 2018 to Sep 8, 2026 (8.5 years).
QQQ vs ROBT 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 8.5 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs ROBT Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +24.69% while ROBT returned +12.63%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.44% versus a gain of 10.28% for ROBT.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.76% per year against +11.18% for ROBT; over five years the annualized figures are +14.22% and +0.65% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.26% annualized vs +8.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ROBT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.6% compared with 20.2% 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 -44.5% for ROBT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while ROBT charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $65 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.02% for ROBT.
Holdings Overlap
58.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings ROBT also owns. 22.3% of ROBT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
26 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 114 in ROBT, against full books of 107 and 244.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 46 positions for ROBT that do not appear in our book for QQQ (44.9% of the fund), and 68 for QQQ that do not appear in ROBT (38.0%).
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 ROBT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.44% | 0.77% | 7.67% |
| AAPLApple Inc Ord | 7.27% | 0.40% | 6.87% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.76% | 0.80% | 4.96% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 0.75% | 3.92% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 0.68% | 3.75% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 0.69% | 2.76% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.78% | 1.34% | 1.44% |
| GOOGL Alphabet Inc. Class A | 3.36% | 0.71% | 2.65% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 0.70% | 2.46% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc | 2.10% | 1.46% | 0.64% |
58.9% of QQQ is already inside ROBT.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or ROBT?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while ROBT charges 0.65%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or ROBT?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.69% vs +12.63% for ROBT, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), QQQ annualized +19.26% vs +8.15% for ROBT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or ROBT?
ROBT has been the more volatile fund at 23.6% annualized versus 20.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs ROBT -44.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and ROBT?
QQQ and ROBT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 ROBT?
58.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings ROBT also owns. 22.3% of ROBT's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 114 in ROBT.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or ROBT?
QQQ yields 0.44% while ROBT yields 0.02%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ROBT better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROBT is less concentrated, with 17.9% 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.