QQQ vs SDOG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SDOG?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SDOG over 1Y. SDOG is less concentrated, with 22.9% 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 | SDOG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.36% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.26% |
| Holdings | 107 | 51 |
| YTD Return | +15.18% | +20.44%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.65% | +24.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.60%Best | +18.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.94%Best | +10.92% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -46.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,204Best | $16,790 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 22.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | ALPS Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 29, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2012 to Sep 15, 2026 (14.2 years).
QQQ vs SDOG 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 14.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SDOG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (SDOG) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while SDOG returned +24.82%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a gain of 20.44% for SDOG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +18.16% for SDOG; over five years the annualized figures are +13.94% and +10.92% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.63% annualized vs +9.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 15.7% for SDOG. 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 -46.4% for SDOG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SDOG charges 0.36%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $36 annually, a gap of $18 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.26% for SDOG.
Holdings Overlap
3.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings SDOG also owns. 13.4% of SDOG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
SDOG and QQQ share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 50 in SDOG, against full books of 107 and 51.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 42 positions for SDOG that do not appear in our book for QQQ (83.9% of the fund), and 89 for QQQ that do not appear in SDOG (94.2%).
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 SDOG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 1.12% | 1.65% | 0.53% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.82% | 1.82% | 1.00% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 0.19% | 2.42% | 2.23% |
| SBUXStarbucks Corp | 0.53% | 1.97% | 1.44% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 0.39% | 2.08% | 1.69% |
| KHCKraft Heinz Co. | 0.13% | 2.01% | 1.88% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 0.19% | 1.47% | 1.28% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SDOG you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or SDOG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SDOG charges 0.36%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $18 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SDOG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs +24.82% for SDOG, so SDOG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), QQQ annualized +18.63% vs +9.26% for SDOG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SDOG?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 15.7% for SDOG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SDOG -46.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SDOG?
QQQ and SDOG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 SDOG?
13.4% of SDOG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 13.4% of SDOG's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 50 in SDOG.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SDOG?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SDOG yields 3.26%, so SDOG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SDOG better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SDOG over 1Y. SDOG is less concentrated, with 22.9% 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.