QQQ vs RQI

QQQ vs RQI

Which is better, QQQ or RQI?

Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: QQQ

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

MetricQQQRQI
Expense Ratio0.18%Best3.45%
AUM$483.5B$1,620.47
Dividend Yield0.44%8.96%
Holdings107208
YTD Return+21.71%Best+3.94%
1Y Return+25.89%Best+0.08%
3Y Return (annualized)+28.80%Best+12.11%
5Y Return (annualized)+15.67%Best+2.34%
Volatility (annualized)19.3%Best33.2%
Max Drawdown-53.5%Best-94.1%
$10,000 over 5 years$20,706Best$11,226
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Cohen & Steers Funds
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap GrowthLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMar 10, 1999Feb 28, 2002

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 27, 2002 to Sep 25, 2026 (24.6 years).

QQQ vs RQI 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 RQI Performance

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund Inc (RQI) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds. Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% while RQI returned +0.08%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.71% versus a gain of 3.94% for RQI.

Over three years, QQQ compounded at +28.80% per year against +12.11% for RQI; over five years the annualized figures are +15.67% and +2.34% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +0.68%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

RQI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.2% compared with 19.3% 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 -94.1% for RQI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RQI charges 3.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $345 annually, a gap of $327 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 8.96% for RQI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 170 in RQI, totalling 99.9% and 138.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and RQI as of Mar 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 170 in RQI, against full books of 107 and 208.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of QQQ and RQI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

QQQRQI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QQQ or RQI?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RQI charges 3.45%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $327 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QQQ or RQI?

Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% vs +0.08% for RQI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), QQQ annualized +13.48% vs +0.68% for RQI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QQQ or RQI?

RQI has been the more volatile fund at 33.2% annualized versus 19.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs RQI -94.1%.

Should I hold both QQQ and RQI?

QQQ and RQI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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 RQI?

QQQ yields 0.44% while RQI yields 8.96%, so RQI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is RQI 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.