QQQ vs TCAI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Tortoise AI Infrastructure ETF
Which is better, QQQ or TCAI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. TCAI led over 1Y and the full window. TCAI is less concentrated, with 43.1% 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 | TCAI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $225M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.03% |
| Holdings | 107 | 51 |
| YTD Return | +15.18% | +42.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.65% | +57.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.60% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.94% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.5%Best | 45.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0%Best | -28.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,604 | $17,396Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 43.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Tortoise Capital |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Aug 4, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 5, 2025 to Sep 15, 2026 (1.1 years).
QQQ vs TCAI 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 TCAI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Tortoise AI Infrastructure ETF (TCAI) is an ETF from Tortoise Capital. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while TCAI returned +57.36%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a gain of 42.02% for TCAI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TCAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 45.6% compared with 21.5% 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -28.8% for TCAI. 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 TCAI charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $65 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.03% for TCAI.
Holdings Overlap
16.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings TCAI also owns. 25.8% of TCAI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
TCAI and QQQ share little of their money.
9 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 47 in TCAI, against full books of 107 and 51.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 31 positions for TCAI that do not appear in our book for QQQ (63.2% of the fund), and 87 for QQQ that do not appear in TCAI (81.0%).
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 TCAI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 5.31% | 0.88% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 0.75% | 7.69% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 0.88% | 4.24% | 3.36% |
| STXSeagate Technology Holdings Plc | 0.83% | 3.77% | 2.94% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp Company Guar 11/28 3 | 0.79% | 3.19% | 2.40% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 0.42% | 3.26% | 2.84% |
| YNDXYandex Nv Ord Eur.01 Cl A Nasdaq Stock Exchange | 0.21% | 2.55% | 2.34% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.28% | 1.80% | 1.52% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 0.30% | 0.90% | 0.60% |
25.8% of TCAI 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 TCAI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TCAI charges 0.65%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TCAI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs +57.36% for TCAI, so TCAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +23.42% vs +65.42% for TCAI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TCAI?
TCAI has been the more volatile fund at 45.6% annualized versus 21.5% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs TCAI -28.8%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TCAI?
QQQ and TCAI 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 TCAI?
25.8% of TCAI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 25.8% of TCAI's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 47 in TCAI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or TCAI?
QQQ yields 0.44% while TCAI yields 0.03%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TCAI better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. TCAI led over 1Y and the full window. TCAI is less concentrated, with 43.1% 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.