QQQ vs TUGN
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF
Which is better, QQQ or TUGN?
Large Cap Growth against Multi Alternative.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. TUGN is less concentrated, with 45.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | TUGN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $85M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 11.55% |
| Holdings | 321 | 102 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.2% | 17.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -23.4% |
| $10,000 over 4.3 years | $25,455Best | $17,995 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 45.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Gateway Credit Partners |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 18, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 47 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. QQQ has data through Oct 6, 2026 and TUGN through Aug 20, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2022 to Aug 20, 2026 (4.3 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.2% compared with 17.1% for TUGN. 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 -23.4% for TUGN. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TUGN 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 0.42% against 11.55% for TUGN.
Holdings Overlap
94.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings TUGN also owns. 93.5% of TUGN's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside TUGN. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, QQQ as of Sep 15, 2026 and TUGN as of Jul 29, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
88 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 98 in TUGN, against full books of 321 and 102.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for TUGN that do not appear in our book for QQQ (1.3% of the fund), and 10 for QQQ that do not appear in TUGN (4.4%).
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 TUGN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.45% | 7.85% | 0.60% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.80% | 8.48% | 0.68% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.88% | 4.94% | 0.94% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.85% | 4.16% | 0.69% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.41% | 3.92% | 0.49% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.71% | 3.51% | 0.20% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.15% | 3.33% | 0.18% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.07% | 3.19% | 0.12% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.93% | 3.08% | 0.15% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.74% | 3.18% | 0.44% |
94.2% of QQQ is already inside TUGN.
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 TUGN?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TUGN charges 0.65%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TUGN?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.2% annualized versus 17.1% for TUGN. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs TUGN -23.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TUGN?
QQQ and TUGN have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 TUGN?
94.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings TUGN also owns. 93.5% of TUGN's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 88 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 98 in TUGN.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or TUGN?
QQQ yields 0.42% while TUGN yields 11.55%, so TUGN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TUGN better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. TUGN is less concentrated, with 45.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.