QQQ vs SFTY
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Horizon Managed Risk ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SFTY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. SFTY is less concentrated, with 41.8% 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 | SFTY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.77% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $786M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.17% |
| Holdings | 107 | 168 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | +12.01% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | +15.79% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 10.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0% | -8.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $13,182Best | $12,461 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Horizon Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 25, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.2 years).
QQQ vs SFTY 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SFTY Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Horizon Managed Risk ETF (SFTY) is an ETF from Horizon Funds. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while SFTY returned +15.79%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 12.01% for SFTY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 10.9% for SFTY. 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -8.6% for SFTY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SFTY charges 0.77%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $77 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.17% for SFTY.
Holdings Overlap
78.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings SFTY also owns. 48.8% of SFTY's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside SFTY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
47 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 167 in SFTY, against full books of 107 and 168.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 102 and 167 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 49 positions SFTY does not, 19.3% of the fund.
Largest: GOOG 3.13%, PANW 1.30%, CRWD 0.94%, SPCX 0.91%, MRVL 0.81%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in SFTY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 6.83% | 1.61% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 6.56% | 0.71% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 5.22% | 0.54% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 5.24% | 1.88% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 2.36% | 2.07% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 1.88% | 2.79% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 2.78% | 0.38% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.42% | 2.03% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 1.68% | 1.10% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 2.41% | 0.97% | 1.44% |
78.3% of QQQ is already inside SFTY.
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 SFTY?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SFTY charges 0.77%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SFTY?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +15.79% for SFTY, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +25.89% vs +20.12% for SFTY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SFTY?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 10.9% for SFTY. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs SFTY -8.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SFTY?
QQQ and SFTY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 SFTY?
78.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings SFTY also owns. 48.8% of SFTY's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 47 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 167 in SFTY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SFTY?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SFTY yields 0.17%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SFTY better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. SFTY is less concentrated, with 41.8% 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.