QQQ vs RSP
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF
Which is better, QQQ or RSP?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RSP is less concentrated, with 3.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | RSP |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.20% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $96.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 1.46% |
| Holdings | 321 | 1,533 |
| YTD Return | +22.67%Best | +10.05% |
| 1Y Return | +24.33%Best | +11.81% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.05%Best | +16.61% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.00%Best | +8.54% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 16.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -60.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,924Best | $15,064 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 3.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 24, 2003 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 30, 2003 to Oct 2, 2026 (23.4 years).
QQQ vs RSP 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 23.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs RSP Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% while RSP returned +11.81%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.67% versus a gain of 10.05% for RSP.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +29.05% per year against +16.61% for RSP; over five years the annualized figures are +17.00% and +8.54% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.33% annualized vs +9.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% compared with 16.5% for RSP. 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 -60.9% for RSP. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RSP charges 0.20%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $20 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 1.46% for RSP.
Holdings Overlap
94.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings RSP also owns. 17.0% of RSP's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside RSP. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
87 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 505 in RSP, against full books of 321 and 1,533.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 413 positions for RSP that do not appear in our book for QQQ (82.3% of the fund), and 9 for QQQ that do not appear in RSP (3.3%).
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 RSP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.45% | 0.21% | 8.24% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.80% | 0.22% | 7.58% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.88% | 0.24% | 5.64% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.85% | 0.21% | 4.64% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.41% | 0.21% | 4.20% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.71% | 0.22% | 3.49% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.07% | 0.22% | 2.85% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.15% | 0.10% | 3.05% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.92% | 0.18% | 2.74% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.93% | 0.08% | 2.85% |
94.4% of QQQ is already inside RSP.
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 RSP?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RSP charges 0.20%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RSP?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% vs +11.81% for RSP, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), QQQ annualized +15.33% vs +9.82% for RSP. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RSP?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 16.5% for RSP. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs RSP -60.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RSP?
QQQ and RSP have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 RSP?
94.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings RSP also owns. 17.0% of RSP's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 87 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 505 in RSP.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or RSP?
QQQ yields 0.42% while RSP yields 1.46%, so RSP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RSP better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RSP is less concentrated, with 3.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.