QQQ vs TDF
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Templeton Dragon Fund
Which is better, QQQ or TDF?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. TDF is less concentrated, with 45.6% 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 | TDF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.33% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $5,054.4 |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.61% |
| Holdings | 107 | 68 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | -9.29% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63%Best | -5.02% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15%Best | +8.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16%Best | -8.02% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.6% | 25.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -75.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,390Best | $6,584 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 45.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 8, 1994 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 10, 2026 (27.5 years).
QQQ vs TDF 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 27.5 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs TDF Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Templeton Dragon Fund (TDF) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while TDF returned -5.02%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a loss of 9.29% for TDF.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.15% per year against +8.29% for TDF; over five years the annualized figures are +14.16% and -8.02% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.98% annualized vs +2.21%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 25.8% for TDF. 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 -83.0% for QQQ and -75.1% for TDF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TDF charges 1.33%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $133 annually, a gap of $115 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.61% for TDF.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings TDF also owns. 1.1% of TDF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
TDF and QQQ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 187 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and TDF as of Jan 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 62 in TDF, against full books of 107 and 68.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 6 positions for TDF that do not appear in our book for QQQ (12.7% of the fund), and 95 for QQQ that do not appear in TDF (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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in TDF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc | 0.27% | 1.06% | 0.79% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and TDF 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 TDF?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TDF charges 1.33%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $115 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TDF?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs -5.02% for TDF, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), QQQ annualized +12.98% vs +2.21% for TDF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TDF?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 25.8% for TDF. Worst drawdown: QQQ -83.0% vs TDF -75.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TDF?
QQQ and TDF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, 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 TDF?
1.1% of TDF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.1% of TDF's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 62 in TDF.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or TDF?
QQQ yields 0.44% while TDF yields 3.61%, so TDF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TDF better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. TDF is less concentrated, with 45.6% 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.