QQQ vs THRO
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares US Thematic Rotation Active ETF
Which is better, QQQ or THRO?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. THRO is less concentrated, with 43.0% 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 | THRO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.57% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $6.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.25% |
| Holdings | 107 | 244 |
| YTD Return | +15.21%Best | +12.29% |
| 1Y Return | +19.78%Best | +15.74% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.58%Best | +22.40% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.93% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.2% | 17.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -26.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $18,875Best | $17,949 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 43.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | BlackRock, Inc. (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 14, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 16, 2021 to Sep 16, 2026 (4.8 years).
QQQ vs THRO 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs THRO Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares US Thematic Rotation Active ETF (THRO) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% while THRO returned +15.74%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.21% versus a gain of 12.29% for THRO.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.58% per year against +22.40% for THRO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.2% compared with 17.6% for THRO. 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 -26.5% for THRO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while THRO charges 0.57%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $57 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.25% for THRO.
Holdings Overlap
77.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings THRO also owns. 55.0% of THRO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside THRO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
43 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 248 in THRO, against full books of 107 and 244.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 131 positions for THRO that do not appear in our book for QQQ (43.9% of the fund), and 53 for QQQ that do not appear in THRO (19.9%).
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 THRO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 8.26% | 0.18% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 7.87% | 0.60% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 6.55% | 0.79% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 4.76% | 0.09% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 3.73% | 0.37% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 2.23% | 2.20% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 2.40% | 0.76% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 1.87% | 1.26% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.29% | 2.16% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 2.41% | 2.02% | 0.39% |
77.7% of QQQ is already inside THRO.
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 THRO?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while THRO charges 0.57%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or THRO?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% vs +15.74% for THRO, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or THRO?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.2% annualized versus 17.6% for THRO. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs THRO -26.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and THRO?
QQQ and THRO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and THRO?
77.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings THRO also owns. 55.0% of THRO's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 43 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 248 in THRO.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or THRO?
QQQ yields 0.44% while THRO yields 0.25%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is THRO better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. THRO is less concentrated, with 43.0% 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.