QQQ vs SYLD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SYLD?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Value.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SYLD over 1Y. SYLD is less concentrated, with 14.8% 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 | SYLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.69% |
| Holdings | 107 | 100 |
| YTD Return | +15.94% | +21.38%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.44% | +24.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.86%Best | +12.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.26%Best | +9.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.9%Best | 19.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -45.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,475Best | $15,836 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 14.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Cambria Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 13, 2013 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2013 to Sep 14, 2026 (13.3 years).
QQQ vs SYLD 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 13.3 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SYLD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF (SYLD) is an ETF from Cambria Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% while SYLD returned +24.86%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.94% versus a gain of 21.38% for SYLD.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.86% per year against +12.78% for SYLD; over five years the annualized figures are +14.26% and +9.63% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.81% annualized vs +12.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SYLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% compared with 17.9% 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -45.4% for SYLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SYLD charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $59 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.69% for SYLD.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings SYLD also owns. 3.3% of SYLD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
SYLD and QQQ share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 99 in SYLD, against full books of 107 and 100.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for SYLD that do not appear in our book for QQQ (95.5% of the fund), and 93 for QQQ that do not appear in SYLD (96.8%).
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 SYLD 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 SYLD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SYLD charges 0.59%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SYLD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% vs +24.86% for SYLD, so SYLD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), QQQ annualized +18.81% vs +12.43% for SYLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SYLD?
SYLD has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 17.9% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SYLD -45.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SYLD?
QQQ and SYLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 SYLD?
3.3% of SYLD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.3% of SYLD's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 99 in SYLD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SYLD?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SYLD yields 1.69%, so SYLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SYLD better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SYLD over 1Y. SYLD is less concentrated, with 14.8% 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.