QQQ vs UAE
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares MSCI UAE ETF
Which is better, QQQ or UAE?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Value.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.4%.
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 | UAE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $486.1B | $306M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 4.43% |
| Holdings | 107 | 62 |
| YTD Return | +17.44%Best | +5.79% |
| 1Y Return | +24.69%Best | +8.38% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.76%Best | +14.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.22%Best | +9.64% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3%Best | 20.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -68.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,441Best | $15,843 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 68.4% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 29, 2014 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 1, 2014 to Sep 8, 2026 (12.4 years).
QQQ vs UAE 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 UAE Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +24.69% while UAE returned +8.38%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.44% versus a gain of 5.79% for UAE.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.76% per year against +14.01% for UAE; over five years the annualized figures are +14.22% and +9.64% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.87% annualized vs -0.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UAE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 18.3% 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 -68.3% for UAE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while UAE charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $59 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 4.43% for UAE.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 57 in UAE, totalling 99.9% and 100.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 57 in UAE, against full books of 107 and 62.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for UAE that do not appear in our book for QQQ (0.1% of the fund), and 94 for QQQ that do not appear in UAE (96.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and UAE 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 UAE?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while UAE charges 0.59%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or UAE?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.69% vs +8.38% for UAE, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), QQQ annualized +18.87% vs -0.26% for UAE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or UAE?
UAE has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 18.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs UAE -68.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and UAE?
QQQ and UAE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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 UAE?
QQQ yields 0.44% while UAE yields 4.43%, so UAE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UAE better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.