QQQ vs UDEC
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Innovator US Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - December
Which is better, QQQ or UDEC?
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 | UDEC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.79% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $246M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 107 | 12 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | +7.60% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | +11.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +12.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24%Best | +7.64% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6%Best | 54.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -60.7%Best | -68.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,324Best | $14,450 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Innovator ETFs Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Option Writing |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 1, 2019 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 16, 2001 to Sep 18, 2026 (25.5 years).
QQQ vs UDEC 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 UDEC Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Innovator US Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - December (UDEC) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while UDEC returned +11.97%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 7.60% for UDEC.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +12.12% for UDEC; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and +7.64% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.02% annualized vs +1.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UDEC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 54.4% compared with 20.6% 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 -60.7% for QQQ and -68.5% for UDEC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.07. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while UDEC 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 UDEC.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and UDEC 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 UDEC?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while UDEC charges 0.79%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or UDEC?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +11.97% for UDEC, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), QQQ annualized +12.02% vs +1.02% for UDEC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or UDEC?
UDEC has been the more volatile fund at 54.4% annualized versus 20.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -60.7% vs UDEC -68.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and UDEC?
QQQ and UDEC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.07, 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 UDEC?
QQQ yields 0.44% while UDEC yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UDEC 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.