QQQ vs UAUG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Innovator US Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - August
Which is better, QQQ or UAUG?
Large Cap Growth against Option Writing.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | UAUG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.79% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $239M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 107 | 6 |
| YTD Return | +15.21%Best | +6.68% |
| 1Y Return | +19.78%Best | +9.09% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.58%Best | +13.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.93%Best | +8.20% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.5% | 7.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -13.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,195Best | $14,830 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Innovator ETFs Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Option Writing |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jul 31, 2019 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 1, 2019 to Sep 16, 2026 (7.1 years).
QQQ vs UAUG 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 7.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs UAUG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Innovator US Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - August (UAUG) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% while UAUG returned +9.09%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.21% versus a gain of 6.68% for UAUG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.58% per year against +13.38% for UAUG; over five years the annualized figures are +13.93% and +8.20% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.73% annualized vs +7.88%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.5% compared with 7.7% for UAUG. 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 -13.9% for UAUG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while UAUG charges 0.79%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $79 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.00% for UAUG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 1 in UAUG, totalling 99.9% and 100.3% 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 1 in UAUG, against full books of 107 and 6.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and UAUG 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 UAUG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while UAUG charges 0.79%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or UAUG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% vs +9.09% for UAUG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), QQQ annualized +20.73% vs +7.88% for UAUG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or UAUG?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.5% annualized versus 7.7% for UAUG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs UAUG -13.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and UAUG?
QQQ and UAUG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 UAUG?
QQQ yields 0.44% while UAUG yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UAUG better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.