QQQ vs THW
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Abrdn World Healthcare Fund
Which is better, QQQ or THW?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, THW over 1Y.
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 | THW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 3.00% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $483M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 9.93% |
| Holdings | 107 | 123 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | +14.67% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63% | +25.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15%Best | +13.31% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16%Best | +6.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9%Best | 21.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -55.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,390Best | $13,414 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Aberdeen |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 26, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2015 to Sep 10, 2026 (11.2 years).
QQQ vs THW 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 THW Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Abrdn World Healthcare Fund (THW) is an ETF from Aberdeen. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while THW returned +25.57%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a gain of 14.67% for THW.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.15% per year against +13.31% for THW; over five years the annualized figures are +14.16% and +6.05% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.49% annualized vs +1.70%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
THW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 18.9% 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -55.7% for THW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while THW charges 3.00%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $300 annually, a gap of $282 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 9.93% for THW.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings THW also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for THW, our book for it lists positions totalling 118.6% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 217 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and THW as of Dec 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 96 in THW, against full books of 107 and 123.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and THW 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 THW?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while THW charges 3.00%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $282 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or THW?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs +25.57% for THW, so THW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QQQ annualized +18.49% vs +1.70% for THW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or THW?
THW has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 18.9% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs THW -55.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and THW?
QQQ and THW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 THW?
QQQ yields 0.44% while THW yields 9.93%, so THW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is THW better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, THW over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.