QQQ vs UYG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs ProShares Ultra Financials
Which is better, QQQ or UYG?
Large Cap Growth against Multi Alternative.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, UYG over 3Y.
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 | UYG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.94% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $813M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 10.91% |
| Holdings | 107 | 89 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | +4.45% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | +6.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98% | +31.47%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | +12.98% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8%Best | 41.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -98.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $18,408 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 30, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 11, 2026 (19.6 years).
QQQ vs UYG 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 UYG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ProShares Ultra Financials (UYG) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while UYG returned +6.97%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 4.45% for UYG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +31.47% for UYG; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +12.98% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.47% annualized vs +0.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UYG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.1% compared with 18.8% 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -98.0% for UYG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while UYG charges 0.94%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $94 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 10.91% for UYG.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings UYG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UYG, our book for it covers 61.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 76 in UYG, against full books of 107 and 89.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in UYG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PYPLPaypal Holdings Inc | 0.22% | 0.37% | 0.15% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and UYG 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 UYG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while UYG charges 0.94%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or UYG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +6.97% for UYG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QQQ annualized +15.47% vs +0.08% for UYG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or UYG?
UYG has been the more volatile fund at 41.1% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs UYG -98.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and UYG?
QQQ and UYG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 UYG?
QQQ yields 0.44% while UYG yields 10.91%, so UYG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UYG better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, UYG over 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.