QQQ vs TSEL
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Touchstone Sands Capital US Select Growth ETF
Which is better, QQQ or TSEL?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.9%.
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 | TSEL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.67% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $82M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 321 | 56 |
| YTD Return | +22.67%Best | +6.51% |
| 1Y Return | +24.33%Best | -1.17% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.05% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.00% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.6%Best | 21.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -28.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $14,439Best | $11,659 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2%Best | 55.9% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Touchstone Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 2, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 3, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.7 years).
QQQ vs TSEL 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs TSEL Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Touchstone Sands Capital US Select Growth ETF (TSEL) is an ETF from Touchstone Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% while TSEL returned -1.17%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.67% versus a gain of 6.51% for TSEL.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TSEL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.9% compared with 19.6% 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -28.9% for TSEL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.92. 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 TSEL charges 0.67%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $67 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.00% for TSEL.
Holdings Overlap
42.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings TSEL also owns. 63.5% of TSEL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
16 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 28 in TSEL, against full books of 321 and 56.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 11 positions for TSEL that do not appear in our book for QQQ (32.5% of the fund), and 81 for QQQ that do not appear in TSEL (55.8%).
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 TSEL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.45% | 10.49% | 2.04% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.88% | 6.10% | 0.22% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.15% | 8.40% | 5.25% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.07% | 5.60% | 2.53% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.85% | 3.72% | 1.13% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.41% | 3.92% | 0.49% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.71% | 2.63% | 1.08% |
| STXSeagate Technolo | 0.82% | 4.79% | 3.97% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 1.64% | 3.75% | 2.11% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 1.07% | 4.30% | 3.23% |
63.5% of TSEL 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 TSEL?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TSEL charges 0.67%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TSEL?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% vs -1.17% for TSEL, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +24.12% vs +9.45% for TSEL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TSEL?
TSEL has been the more volatile fund at 21.9% annualized versus 19.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs TSEL -28.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TSEL?
QQQ and TSEL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, 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 TSEL?
63.5% of TSEL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 63.5% of TSEL's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 28 in TSEL.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or TSEL?
QQQ yields 0.42% while TSEL yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TSEL better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.