QQQ vs USXF
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF
Which is better, QQQ or USXF?
QQQ has been ahead.
USXF has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. USXF is less concentrated, with 37.2% 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 | USXF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.10%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.81% |
| Holdings | 107 | 294 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | +16.74% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | +19.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +24.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24%Best | +14.18% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 17.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -29.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,324Best | $19,407 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 37.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 16, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2020 to Sep 18, 2026 (6.3 years).
QQQ vs USXF 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 6.3 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs USXF Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA ETF (USXF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while USXF returned +19.59%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 16.74% for USXF.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +24.78% for USXF; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.53% annualized vs +18.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 17.3% for USXF. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -29.5% for USXF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. 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 USXF charges 0.10%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $10 annually, a gap of $8 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.81% for USXF.
Holdings Overlap
47.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings USXF also owns. 50.1% of USXF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
54 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 278 in USXF, against full books of 107 and 294.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 215 positions for USXF that do not appear in our book for QQQ (48.6% of the fund), and 42 for QQQ that do not appear in USXF (50.4%).
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 USXF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 12.69% | 4.25% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 6.62% | 3.46% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 4.28% | 0.15% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 3.04% | 0.41% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.10% | 1.72% | 0.38% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 2.23% | 1.56% | 0.67% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 1.86% | 1.44% | 0.42% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp 3.125 06/15/2060 | 1.69% | 1.49% | 0.20% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 1.30% | 1.23% | 0.07% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 1.12% | 0.94% | 0.18% |
50.1% of USXF 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 USXF?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while USXF charges 0.10%. USXF is the cheaper option, by $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or USXF?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +19.59% for USXF, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), QQQ annualized +19.53% vs +18.06% for USXF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or USXF?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 17.3% for USXF. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs USXF -29.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and USXF?
QQQ and USXF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, 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 USXF?
50.1% of USXF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 50.1% of USXF's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 54 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 278 in USXF.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or USXF?
QQQ yields 0.44% while USXF yields 0.81%, so USXF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USXF better than QQQ?
USXF has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. USXF is less concentrated, with 37.2% 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.