QQQ vs USL
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs United States 12 Month Oil Fund
Which is better, QQQ or USL?
Large Cap Growth against Energy.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, USL 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 | USL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.02% |
| AUM | $486.1B | $44M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 107 | 16 |
| YTD Return | +17.33% | +59.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +26.50% | +46.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.58%Best | +10.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.15% | +16.08%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.0%Best | 29.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -51.4%Best | -89.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,381 | $21,076Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | USCF Investments |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Energy |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 6, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 6, 2007 to Sep 3, 2026 (18.7 years).
QQQ vs USL 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 USL Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and United States 12 Month Oil Fund (USL) is an ETF from USCF Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +26.50% while USL returned +46.59%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.33% versus a gain of 59.96% for USL.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.58% per year against +10.60% for USL; over five years the annualized figures are +14.15% and +16.08% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.19% annualized vs +0.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 29.4% compared with 19.0% 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 -51.4% for QQQ and -89.1% for USL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while USL charges 1.02%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $102 annually, a gap of $84 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.00% for USL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 1 in USL, totalling 99.9% and 28.1% 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 USL, against full books of 107 and 16.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and USL 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 USL?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while USL charges 1.02%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $84 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or USL?
Over the past year QQQ returned +26.50% vs +46.59% for USL, so USL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +15.19% vs +0.18% for USL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or USL?
USL has been the more volatile fund at 29.4% annualized versus 19.0% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -51.4% vs USL -89.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and USL?
QQQ and USL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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 USL?
QQQ yields 0.44% while USL yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USL better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, USL over 1Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.