QQQ vs STXI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Strive International Developed Markets ETF
Which is better, QQQ or STXI?
STXI has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. STXI led over 1Y and the full window. STXI is less concentrated, with 15.2% 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 | STXI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.29% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $21M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.84% |
| Holdings | 107 | 253 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -14.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $11,996 | $12,564Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 15.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Strive Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 11, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 168 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. QQQ has data through Sep 10, 2026 and STXI through Mar 26, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2024 to Mar 26, 2026 (1.7 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.7% compared with 13.2% for STXI. 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 -14.1% for STXI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while STXI charges 0.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $29 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.84% for STXI.
Holdings Overlap
1.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings STXI also owns. 3.9% of STXI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
STXI and QQQ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 187 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and STXI as of Jan 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
4 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 250 in STXI, against full books of 107 and 253.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for STXI that do not appear in our book for QQQ (3.8% of the fund), and 95 for QQQ that do not appear in STXI (97.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and STXI 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 STXI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while STXI charges 0.29%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, QQQ or STXI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 13.7% annualized versus 13.2% for STXI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs STXI -14.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and STXI?
QQQ and STXI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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 STXI?
3.9% of STXI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.9% of STXI's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 250 in STXI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or STXI?
QQQ yields 0.44% while STXI yields 2.84%, so STXI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STXI better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. STXI led over 1Y and the full window. STXI is less concentrated, with 15.2% 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.