QQQ vs USA
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Liberty All-Star Equity Fund
Which is better, QQQ or USA?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. USA 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 | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.92% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $2.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 9.81% |
| Holdings | 107 | 139 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | +1.09% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | +0.55% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +9.90% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24%Best | +2.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.6% | 19.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0%Best | -83.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,324Best | $11,117 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 25.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Liberty All Star Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 31, 1986 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 18, 2026 (27.5 years).
QQQ vs USA 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 USA Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (USA) is an ETF from Liberty All Star Funds. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while USA returned +0.55%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 1.09% for USA.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +9.90% for USA; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and +2.14% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs -0.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 19.8% for USA. 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 -83.0% for QQQ and -83.4% for USA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while USA charges 0.92%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $92 annually, a gap of $74 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 9.81% for USA.
Holdings Overlap
55.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings USA also owns. 34.4% of USA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
34 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 147 in USA, against full books of 107 and 139.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for USA that do not appear in our book for QQQ (59.4% of the fund), and 64 for QQQ that do not appear in USA (43.8%).
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 USA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 5.70% | 2.74% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 2.57% | 3.19% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 3.84% | 0.71% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 1.66% | 3.01% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 0.80% | 3.63% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 1.98% | 0.80% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 1.10% | 2.26% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 1.29% | 1.87% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.56% | 1.66% | 0.90% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 1.84% | 0.57% | 1.27% |
55.2% of QQQ is already inside USA.
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 USA?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while USA charges 0.92%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $74 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or USA?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +0.55% for USA, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), QQQ annualized +13.04% vs -0.78% for USA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or USA?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 19.8% for USA. Worst drawdown: QQQ -83.0% vs USA -83.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and USA?
QQQ and USA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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 USA?
55.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings USA also owns. 34.4% of USA's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 34 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 147 in USA.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or USA?
QQQ yields 0.44% while USA yields 9.81%, so USA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USA better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. USA 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.