QQQ vs SHLD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Global X Defense Tech ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SHLD?
Each has led over a different period.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, SHLD over 3Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.5%.
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 | SHLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $7.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.65% |
| Holdings | 107 | 55 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | -4.87% |
| 1Y Return | +22.10%Best | -3.95% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.27% | +36.76%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.60% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3%Best | 21.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -25.4% |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $19,442 | $25,798Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 64.5% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Global X by mirae Asset |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 11, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2023 to Sep 17, 2026 (3 years).
QQQ vs SHLD 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 3 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SHLD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% while SHLD returned -3.95%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a loss of 4.87% for SHLD.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.27% per year against +36.76% for SHLD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SHLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 17.3% 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -25.4% for SHLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.04. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SHLD charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $50 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.65% for SHLD.
Holdings Overlap
1.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings SHLD also owns. 10.6% of SHLD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
SHLD and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 50 in SHLD, against full books of 107 and 55.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 23 positions for SHLD that do not appear in our book for QQQ (53.2% of the fund), and 95 for QQQ that do not appear in SHLD (96.0%).
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 SHLD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 1.60% | 10.61% | 9.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SHLD 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 SHLD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SHLD charges 0.50%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SHLD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% vs -3.95% for SHLD, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SHLD?
SHLD has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 17.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SHLD -25.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SHLD?
QQQ and SHLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.04, 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 SHLD?
10.6% of SHLD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 10.6% of SHLD's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 50 in SHLD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SHLD?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SHLD yields 0.65%, so SHLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SHLD better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, SHLD over 3Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.