QQQ vs UGA
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs United States Gasoline Fund LP
Which is better, QQQ or UGA?
Large Cap Growth against Energy.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, UGA over 1Y and 5Y.
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 | UGA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.08% |
| AUM | $486.1B | $146M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 107 | 5 |
| YTD Return | +17.54% | +117.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +25.59% | +105.55%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.63%Best | +23.34% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.18% | +29.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8%Best | 36.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -49.4%Best | -86.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,407 | $36,689Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | USCF Investments |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Energy |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 26, 2008 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 27, 2008 to Sep 4, 2026 (18.5 years).
QQQ vs UGA 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 18.5 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs UGA Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA) is an ETF from USCF Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% while UGA returned +105.55%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.54% versus a gain of 117.47% for UGA.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.63% per year against +23.34% for UGA; over five years the annualized figures are +14.18% and +29.69% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +16.44% annualized vs +5.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UGA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 36.7% compared with 18.8% 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 -49.4% for QQQ and -86.6% for UGA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while UGA charges 1.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $108 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.00% for UGA.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 1 in UGA, totalling 99.9% and 33.0% 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 UGA, against full books of 107 and 5.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and UGA 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 UGA?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while UGA charges 1.08%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or UGA?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% vs +105.55% for UGA, so UGA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +16.44% vs +5.52% for UGA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or UGA?
UGA has been the more volatile fund at 36.7% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -49.4% vs UGA -86.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and UGA?
QQQ and UGA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, 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 UGA?
QQQ yields 0.44% while UGA yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UGA better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, UGA over 1Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.