QQQ vs RXL

QQQ vs RXL

Which is better, QQQ or RXL?

Large Cap Growth against Multi Alternative.

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

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: split

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

MetricQQQRXL
Expense Ratio0.18%Best0.95%
AUM$483.5B$97M
Dividend Yield0.44%1.29%
Holdings10767
YTD Return+17.95%Best+12.48%
1Y Return+21.77%+43.05%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+25.63%Best+11.69%
5Y Return (annualized)+15.24%Best+3.71%
Volatility (annualized)18.8%Best29.4%
Max Drawdown-53.5%Best-69.0%
$10,000 over 5 years$20,324Best$11,998
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)ProShares
CategoryEquityAlternative
StyleLarge Cap GrowthMulti Alternative
InceptionMar 10, 1999Jan 30, 2007

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 18, 2026 (19.6 years).

QQQ vs RXL 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 19.6 years both funds cover.

QQQ vs RXL Performance

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ProShares Ultra Health Care (RXL) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while RXL returned +43.05%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 12.48% for RXL.

Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +11.69% for RXL; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and +3.71% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.50% annualized vs +14.24%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

RXL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 29.4% compared with 18.8% 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 -69.0% for RXL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RXL 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 1.29% for RXL.

Holdings Overlap

QQQ already in RXL3.6%

At least 3.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings RXL also owns.

Stated as a floor: for RXL, our book for it covers 76.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

QQQ and RXL share little of their money.

8 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 60 in RXL, against full books of 107 and 67.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in QQQWeight in RXLDifference
AMGNAmgen Inc.0.97%2.56%1.59%
GILDGilead Sciences0.72%2.01%1.29%
VRTXNvaesrtex Pharmaceuticals Inc0.54%1.53%0.99%
ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc.0.58%1.48%0.90%
REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.0.35%0.88%0.53%
IDXXIdexx Labs0.20%0.49%0.29%
DXCMDexcom Inc.0.14%0.39%0.25%
GEHCGe Healthcare Technologies Inc0.14%0.36%0.22%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

QQQRXL

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QQQ or RXL?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RXL charges 0.95%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QQQ or RXL?

Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +43.05% for RXL, so RXL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QQQ annualized +15.50% vs +14.24% for RXL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QQQ or RXL?

RXL has been the more volatile fund at 29.4% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs RXL -69.0%.

Should I hold both QQQ and RXL?

QQQ and RXL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 RXL?

At least 3.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings RXL also owns. Our book for RXL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 60 in RXL.

Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or RXL?

QQQ yields 0.44% while RXL yields 1.29%, so RXL currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is RXL better than QQQ?

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, RXL over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.