QQQ vs UPSD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Aptus Large Cap Upside ETF
Which is better, QQQ or UPSD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. UPSD is less concentrated, with 25.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | UPSD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.79% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $123M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.63% |
| Holdings | 107 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | +12.13% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | +14.39% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -23.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $14,348Best | $11,936 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 25.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Aptus ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Nov 20, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.8 years).
QQQ vs UPSD 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs UPSD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Aptus Large Cap Upside ETF (UPSD) is an ETF from Aptus ETFs. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while UPSD returned +14.39%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 12.13% for UPSD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 14.2% for UPSD. 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -23.9% for UPSD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while UPSD 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 0.63% for UPSD.
Holdings Overlap
59.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings UPSD also owns. 36.1% of UPSD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
28 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 99 in UPSD, against full books of 107 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 70 positions for UPSD that do not appear in our book for QQQ (59.0% of the fund), and 68 for QQQ that do not appear in UPSD (37.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in UPSD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 5.17% | 3.27% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 4.84% | 2.43% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 3.38% | 2.38% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 1.89% | 2.78% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 1.99% | 2.44% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 1.53% | 1.83% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 1.52% | 1.61% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 0.72% | 2.73% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 0.85% | 2.31% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 0.46% | 2.32% |
59.6% of QQQ is already inside UPSD.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or UPSD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while UPSD charges 0.79%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or UPSD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +14.39% for UPSD, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +22.21% vs +10.33% for UPSD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or UPSD?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 14.2% for UPSD. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs UPSD -23.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and UPSD?
QQQ and UPSD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and UPSD?
59.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings UPSD also owns. 36.1% of UPSD's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 28 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 99 in UPSD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or UPSD?
QQQ yields 0.44% while UPSD yields 0.63%, so UPSD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UPSD better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. UPSD is less concentrated, with 25.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.