QQQ vs USRD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Themes US R&D Champions ETF
Which is better, QQQ or USRD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. USRD is less concentrated, with 27.2% 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 | USRD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.29% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.38% |
| Holdings | 107 | 103 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -22.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $16,921Best | $15,364 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 27.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Themes ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 13, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 52 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. QQQ has data through Sep 18, 2026 and USRD through Jul 28, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 13, 2023 to Jul 28, 2026 (2.6 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 16.7% for USRD. 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 -22.7% for USRD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while USRD charges 0.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $29 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.38% for USRD.
Holdings Overlap
50.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings USRD also owns. 68.2% of USRD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
33 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 51 in USRD, against full books of 107 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 18 positions for USRD that do not appear in our book for QQQ (31.8% of the fund), and 63 for QQQ that do not appear in USRD (47.3%).
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 USRD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 2.33% | 4.94% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 1.79% | 3.97% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 1.64% | 3.03% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 2.63% | 0.82% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 1.59% | 1.77% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 1.72% | 1.44% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 1.30% | 3.31% | 2.01% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 1.82% | 0.96% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.10% | 2.34% | 0.24% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 1.86% | 2.46% | 0.60% |
68.2% of USRD is already inside QQQ.
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 USRD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while USRD charges 0.29%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, QQQ or USRD?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 16.7% for USRD. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs USRD -22.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and USRD?
QQQ and USRD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and USRD?
68.2% of USRD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 68.2% of USRD's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 33 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 51 in USRD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or USRD?
QQQ yields 0.44% while USRD yields 0.38%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USRD better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. USRD is less concentrated, with 27.2% 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.