QQQ vs SHAG

QQQ vs SHAG

Which is better, QQQ or SHAG?

Large Cap Growth against Short Term Bond.

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

Lower Fees: SHAGHigher Returns: QQQ

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

MetricQQQSHAG
Expense Ratio0.18%0.12%Best
AUM$483.5B$47M
Dividend Yield0.44%4.23%
Holdings1071,210
YTD Return+15.18%Best-2.84%
1Y Return+19.65%Best-2.14%
3Y Return (annualized)+24.60%Best+3.42%
5Y Return (annualized)+13.94%Best+0.80%
Volatility (annualized)19.6%2.6%Best
Max Drawdown-35.1%-9.6%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$19,204Best$10,406
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)WisdomTree Investments
CategoryEquityFixed Income
StyleLarge Cap GrowthShort Term Bond
InceptionMar 10, 1999May 18, 2017

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 18, 2017 to Sep 15, 2026 (9.3 years).

QQQ vs SHAG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.

QQQ vs SHAG Performance

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Wisdomtree Yield Enhanced US Short-Term Aggregate Bond Fund (SHAG) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while SHAG returned -2.14%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a loss of 2.84% for SHAG.

Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +3.42% for SHAG; over five years the annualized figures are +13.94% and +0.80% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.58% annualized vs +1.69%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 2.6% for SHAG. 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 -9.6% for SHAG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SHAG charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $12 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 4.23% for SHAG.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

QQQSHAG

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QQQ or SHAG?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SHAG charges 0.12%. SHAG is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QQQ or SHAG?

Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs -2.14% for SHAG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), QQQ annualized +19.58% vs +1.69% for SHAG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QQQ or SHAG?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 2.6% for SHAG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SHAG -9.6%.

Should I hold both QQQ and SHAG?

QQQ and SHAG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.43, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SHAG?

QQQ yields 0.44% while SHAG yields 4.23%, so SHAG currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SHAG better than QQQ?

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