QQQ vs VALQ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs American Century US Quality Value ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VALQ?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VALQ over 1Y. VALQ is less concentrated, with 22.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.
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 | VALQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.29% |
| AUM | $437.3B | $190M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 1.67% |
| Holdings | 208 | 449 |
| YTD Return | +7.37% | +8.16%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.77% | +13.50%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.44%Best | +15.15% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.19%Best | +8.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.2% | 16.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -38.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,995Best | $15,106 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.9% | 22.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | American Century Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 11, 2018 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 16, 2018 to Nov 6, 2026 (8.8 years).
QQQ vs VALQ 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 8.8 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VALQ Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and American Century US Quality Value ETF (VALQ) is an ETF from American Century Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +7.77% while VALQ returned +13.50%. Year to date, QQQ is up 7.37% versus a gain of 8.16% for VALQ.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +21.44% per year against +15.15% for VALQ; over five years the annualized figures are +11.19% and +8.60% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +17.50% annualized vs +7.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.2% compared with 16.1% for VALQ. 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 -38.2% for VALQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VALQ 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 0.43% against 1.67% for VALQ.
Holdings Overlap
64.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings VALQ also owns. 26.2% of VALQ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
32 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 225 in VALQ, against full books of 208 and 449.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 191 positions for VALQ that do not appear in our book for QQQ (72.2% of the fund), and 62 for QQQ that do not appear in VALQ (32.6%).
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 VALQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple Inc | 7.68% | 1.88% | 5.80% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.05% | 0.19% | 7.86% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.16% | 0.19% | 5.97% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.47% | 1.17% | 3.30% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.37% | 1.50% | 1.87% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.23% | 0.16% | 4.07% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.84% | 2.32% | 0.48% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.90% | 0.23% | 3.67% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.15% | 0.16% | 2.99% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 1.08% | 2.16% | 1.08% |
64.6% of QQQ is already inside VALQ.
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 VALQ?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VALQ charges 0.29%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VALQ?
Over the past year QQQ returned +7.77% vs +13.50% for VALQ, so VALQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), QQQ annualized +17.50% vs +7.90% for VALQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VALQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.2% annualized versus 16.1% for VALQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VALQ -38.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VALQ?
QQQ and VALQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and VALQ?
64.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings VALQ also owns. 26.2% of VALQ's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 225 in VALQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VALQ?
QQQ yields 0.43% while VALQ yields 1.67%, so VALQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VALQ better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VALQ over 1Y. VALQ is less concentrated, with 22.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.