QQQ vs TAN
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Invesco Solar ETF
Which is better, QQQ or TAN?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ 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 58.5%.
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 | TAN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.70% |
| AUM | $486.1B | $1.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 107 | 44 |
| YTD Return | +17.54%Best | -6.90% |
| 1Y Return | +25.59%Best | +14.33% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.63%Best | -6.07% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.18%Best | -10.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8%Best | 43.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -49.4%Best | -95.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,407Best | $5,638 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 58.5% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 15, 2008 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 15, 2008 to Sep 4, 2026 (18.4 years).
QQQ vs TAN 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs TAN Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% while TAN returned +14.33%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.54% versus a loss of 6.90% for TAN.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.63% per year against -6.07% for TAN; over five years the annualized figures are +14.18% and -10.83% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +16.59% annualized vs -7.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TAN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 43.6% compared with 18.8% 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 -49.4% for QQQ and -95.3% for TAN. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TAN charges 0.70%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $70 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.00% for TAN.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 35 in TAN, totalling 99.9% and 100.1% 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 35 in TAN, against full books of 107 and 44.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 12 positions for TAN that do not appear in our book for QQQ (52.9% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in TAN (97.5%).
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 TAN 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 TAN?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TAN charges 0.70%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TAN?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% vs +14.33% for TAN, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), QQQ annualized +16.59% vs -7.28% for TAN. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TAN?
TAN has been the more volatile fund at 43.6% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -49.4% vs TAN -95.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TAN?
QQQ and TAN have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 TAN?
QQQ yields 0.44% while TAN yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TAN better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ 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 58.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.