QQQ vs TBXU
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Direxion Daily Biotech Top 5 Bull 2X ETF
Which is better, QQQ or TBXU?
Large Cap Growth against Trading-Leveraged Equity.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. TBXU led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | TBXU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.98% |
| AUM | $437.3B | $3M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 1.62% |
| Holdings | 208 | 25 |
| YTD Return | +12.98% | +59.65%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.59% | +62.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.05% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.74% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.3%Best | 38.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.8%Best | -26.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,481 | $18,657Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Trading-Leveraged Equity |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 1, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 1, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.1 years).
QQQ vs TBXU 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs TBXU Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Direxion Daily Biotech Top 5 Bull 2X ETF (TBXU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% while TBXU returned +62.07%. Year to date, QQQ is up 12.98% versus a gain of 59.65% for TBXU.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TBXU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 38.9% compared with 22.3% 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 -14.8% for QQQ and -26.5% for TBXU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.25. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TBXU charges 0.98%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $98 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.43% against 1.62% for TBXU.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings TBXU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for TBXU, our book for it covers 55.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and TBXU share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 5 in TBXU, against full books of 208 and 25.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and TBXU 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 TBXU?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TBXU charges 0.98%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TBXU?
Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% vs +62.07% for TBXU, so TBXU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +13.38% vs +76.29% for TBXU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TBXU?
TBXU has been the more volatile fund at 38.9% annualized versus 22.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -14.8% vs TBXU -26.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TBXU?
QQQ and TBXU have a monthly-return correlation of -0.25, 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 TBXU?
At least 2.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings TBXU also owns. Our book for TBXU is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 5 in TBXU.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or TBXU?
QQQ yields 0.43% while TBXU yields 1.62%, so TBXU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TBXU better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. TBXU 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.