QQQ vs USAF
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Atlas America Fund ETF
Which is better, QQQ or USAF?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 71.6%.
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 | USAF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.89% |
| AUM | $486.1B | $17M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.42% |
| Holdings | 107 | 73 |
| YTD Return | +17.54%Best | +5.28% |
| 1Y Return | +25.59%Best | +8.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.63% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.18% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 4.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -4.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $14,454Best | $11,536 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 71.6% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Atlas Capital Team |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Nov 19, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 20, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.8 years).
QQQ vs USAF 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 USAF Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Atlas America Fund ETF (USAF) is an ETF from Atlas Capital Team. Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% while USAF returned +8.00%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.54% versus a gain of 5.28% for USAF.
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 4.6% for USAF. 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 -4.5% for USAF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.06. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while USAF charges 0.89%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $89 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.42% for USAF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 62 in USAF, totalling 99.9% and 97.0% 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 62 in USAF, against full books of 107 and 73.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 62 positions for USAF that do not appear in our book for QQQ (97.0% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in USAF (97.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and USAF 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 USAF?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while USAF charges 0.89%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or USAF?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% vs +8.00% for USAF, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +22.71% vs +8.26% for USAF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or USAF?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 4.6% for USAF. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs USAF -4.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and USAF?
QQQ and USAF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.06, 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 USAF?
QQQ yields 0.44% while USAF yields 2.42%, so USAF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USAF better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 71.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.