QQQ vs SOUX

QQQ vs SOUX

Which is better, QQQ or SOUX?

Large Cap Growth against Trading-Leveraged Equity.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher 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

MetricQQQSOUX
Expense Ratio0.18%Best1.29%
AUM$483.5B$9M
Dividend Yield0.44%71.52%
Holdings10711
YTD Return+17.95%Best-83.34%
1Y Return+21.77%Best-94.30%
3Y Return (annualized)+25.63%-
5Y Return (annualized)+15.24%-
Volatility (annualized)19.7%Best117.1%
Max Drawdown-12.0%Best-96.7%
$10,000 over 1.2 years$13,319Best$1,199
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Defiance ETFs, LLC
CategoryEquityAlternative
StyleLarge Cap GrowthTrading-Leveraged Equity
InceptionMar 10, 1999Jun 23, 2025

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 24, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.2 years).

QQQ vs SOUX 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 SOUX Performance

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Defiance Daily Target 2X Long SOUN ETF (SOUX) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while SOUX returned -94.30%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a loss of 83.34% for SOUX.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SOUX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 117.1% compared with 19.7% 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -96.7% for SOUX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SOUX charges 1.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $129 annually, a gap of $111 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 71.52% for SOUX.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 1 in SOUX, totalling 99.9% and 9.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1 in SOUX, against full books of 107 and 11.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

QQQSOUX

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QQQ or SOUX?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SOUX charges 1.29%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $111 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QQQ or SOUX?

Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs -94.30% for SOUX, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +26.98% vs -82.93% for SOUX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QQQ or SOUX?

SOUX has been the more volatile fund at 117.1% annualized versus 19.7% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs SOUX -96.7%.

Should I hold both QQQ and SOUX?

QQQ and SOUX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 SOUX?

QQQ yields 0.44% while SOUX yields 71.52%, so SOUX currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SOUX better than QQQ?

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