QQQ vs SOXX
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares Semiconductor ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SOXX?
SOXX has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. SOXX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.4%.
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 | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.33% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $40.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.29% |
| Holdings | 107 | 34 |
| YTD Return | +16.87% | +68.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.98% | +107.50%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98% | +48.86%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39% | +28.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4%Best | 30.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -54.3%Best | -70.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586 | $34,846Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 61.4% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jul 10, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 13, 2001 to Sep 11, 2026 (25.2 years).
QQQ vs SOXX 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 25.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SOXX Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while SOXX returned +107.50%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 68.21% for SOXX.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +48.86% for SOXX; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +28.36% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, SOXX has the edge at +13.94% annualized vs +11.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SOXX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.4% compared with 20.4% 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 -54.3% for QQQ and -70.2% for SOXX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SOXX charges 0.33%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $33 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.29% for SOXX.
Holdings Overlap
32.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings SOXX also owns. 84.8% of SOXX's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of SOXX is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
19 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 31 in SOXX, against full books of 107 and 34.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 8 positions for SOXX that do not appear in our book for QQQ (8.4% of the fund), and 78 for QQQ that do not appear in SOXX (66.0%).
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 SOXX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.44% | 9.43% | 0.99% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 8.90% | 4.47% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 3.45% | 8.22% | 4.77% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 7.48% | 4.32% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 2.23% | 5.09% | 2.86% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 1.86% | 4.59% | 2.73% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.69% | 4.27% | 2.58% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 0.81% | 4.66% | 3.85% |
| KLACKla Corp. | 1.11% | 4.12% | 3.01% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 1.12% | 3.85% | 2.73% |
84.8% of SOXX is already inside QQQ.
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 SOXX?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SOXX charges 0.33%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SOXX?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +107.50% for SOXX, so SOXX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), QQQ annualized +11.95% vs +13.94% for SOXX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SOXX?
SOXX has been the more volatile fund at 30.4% annualized versus 20.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -54.3% vs SOXX -70.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SOXX?
QQQ and SOXX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 SOXX?
84.8% of SOXX's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 84.8% of SOXX's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 31 in SOXX.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SOXX?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SOXX yields 0.29%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SOXX better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. SOXX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.