QQQ vs WDEF
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund ETF
Which is better, QQQ or WDEF?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.3%.
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 | WDEF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $96M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.07% |
| Holdings | 107 | 49 |
| YTD Return | +21.18%Best | -2.07% |
| 1Y Return | +24.36%Best | -8.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.99% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.39% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4%Best | 31.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0%Best | -23.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $13,303Best | $9,721 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 64.3% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jul 17, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 17, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.2 years).
QQQ vs WDEF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs WDEF Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund ETF (WDEF) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.36% while WDEF returned -8.23%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.18% versus a loss of 2.07% for WDEF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.3% compared with 20.4% 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -23.9% for WDEF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.00. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while WDEF charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $45 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.07% for WDEF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 43 in WDEF, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% 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 43 in WDEF, against full books of 107 and 49.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for WDEF that do not appear in our book for QQQ (1.6% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in WDEF (97.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and WDEF 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 WDEF?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while WDEF charges 0.45%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or WDEF?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.36% vs -8.23% for WDEF, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +26.85% vs -2.33% for WDEF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or WDEF?
WDEF has been the more volatile fund at 31.3% annualized versus 20.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs WDEF -23.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and WDEF?
QQQ and WDEF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.00, 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 WDEF?
QQQ yields 0.44% while WDEF yields 0.07%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WDEF better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.