QQQ vs RXI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares Global Consumer Discretionary ETF
Which is better, QQQ or RXI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.3%.
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 | RXI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.37% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $297M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 1.43% |
| Holdings | 321 | 149 |
| YTD Return | +22.67%Best | -9.38% |
| 1Y Return | +24.33%Best | -9.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.05%Best | +10.56% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.00%Best | +3.76% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 18.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -62.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,924Best | $12,027 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2%Best | 47.3% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 12, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2006 to Oct 2, 2026 (20 years).
QQQ vs RXI 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 20 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs RXI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares Global Consumer Discretionary ETF (RXI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% while RXI returned -9.60%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.67% versus a loss of 9.38% for RXI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +29.05% per year against +10.56% for RXI; over five years the annualized figures are +17.00% and +3.76% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.92% annualized vs +6.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 18.3% for RXI. 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 -62.0% for RXI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RXI charges 0.37%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $37 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 1.43% for RXI.
Holdings Overlap
10.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings RXI also owns. 33.2% of RXI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
9 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 132 in RXI, against full books of 321 and 149.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 40 positions for RXI that do not appear in our book for QQQ (27.5% of the fund), and 87 for QQQ that do not appear in RXI (87.6%).
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 RXI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.41% | 16.63% | 12.22% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.92% | 6.80% | 3.88% |
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 0.60% | 2.14% | 1.54% |
| SBUXStarbucks Corp | 0.50% | 1.79% | 1.29% |
| DASHDoordash Inc - A | 0.37% | 1.21% | 0.84% |
| MARMarriott International, Inc. | 0.39% | 1.16% | 0.77% |
| ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. | 0.33% | 1.18% | 0.85% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 0.31% | 1.13% | 0.82% |
| ORLYO'Eilly Automotive, Inc. | 0.31% | 1.13% | 0.82% |
33.2% of RXI is already inside QQQ.
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 RXI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RXI charges 0.37%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RXI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% vs -9.60% for RXI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QQQ annualized +15.92% vs +6.92% for RXI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RXI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 18.3% for RXI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs RXI -62.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RXI?
QQQ and RXI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 RXI?
33.2% of RXI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 33.2% of RXI's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 132 in RXI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or RXI?
QQQ yields 0.42% while RXI yields 1.43%, so RXI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RXI better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.