QQQ vs UNG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs United States Natural Gas Fund LP
Which is better, QQQ or UNG?
Large Cap Growth against Energy.
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 | UNG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.17% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $565M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 107 | 7 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | -15.51% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63%Best | -20.89% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15%Best | -27.61% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16%Best | -31.87% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8%Best | 46.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5% | - |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,390Best | $1,468 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | USCF Investments |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Energy |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 18, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 18, 2007 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.4 years).
QQQ vs UNG 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 UNG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and United States Natural Gas Fund LP (UNG) is an ETF from USCF Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while UNG returned -20.89%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a loss of 15.51% for UNG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.15% per year against -27.61% for UNG; over five years the annualized figures are +14.16% and -31.87% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.46% annualized vs -28.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UNG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 46.9% compared with 18.8% for QQQ. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.05. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while UNG charges 1.17%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $117 annually, a gap of $99 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.00% for UNG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 1 in UNG, totalling 99.9% and 17.9% 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 UNG, against full books of 107 and 7.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and UNG 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 UNG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while UNG charges 1.17%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $99 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or UNG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs -20.89% for UNG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +15.46% vs -28.32% for UNG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or UNG?
UNG has been the more volatile fund at 46.9% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ.
Should I hold both QQQ and UNG?
QQQ and UNG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.05, 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 UNG?
QQQ yields 0.44% while UNG yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UNG 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.