QQQ vs WDGF
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs WisdomTree Global Defense Fund ETF
Which is better, QQQ or WDGF?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. WDGF is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | WDGF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.05% |
| Holdings | 321 | 129 |
| YTD Return | +22.67%Best | -4.87% |
| 1Y Return | +24.33%Best | -8.16% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.05% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.00% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0%Best | 21.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0%Best | -18.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,994Best | $9,710 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 12, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 12, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.1 years).
QQQ vs WDGF 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs WDGF Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and WisdomTree Global Defense Fund ETF (WDGF) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% while WDGF returned -8.16%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.67% versus a loss of 4.87% for WDGF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WDGF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.9% compared with 21.0% 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 -18.0% for WDGF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.09. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while WDGF 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 0.42% against 0.05% for WDGF.
Holdings Overlap
1.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings WDGF also owns. 8.3% of WDGF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
WDGF and QQQ share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 111 in WDGF, against full books of 321 and 129.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 51 positions for WDGF that do not appear in our book for QQQ (47.7% of the fund), and 94 for QQQ that do not appear in WDGF (95.9%).
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 WDGF 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 WDGF?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while WDGF charges 0.45%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or WDGF?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% vs -8.16% for WDGF, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +26.88% vs -2.64% for WDGF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or WDGF?
WDGF has been the more volatile fund at 21.9% annualized versus 21.0% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs WDGF -18.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and WDGF?
QQQ and WDGF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.09, 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 WDGF?
8.3% of WDGF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 8.3% of WDGF's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 111 in WDGF.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or WDGF?
QQQ yields 0.42% while WDGF yields 0.05%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WDGF better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. WDGF is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.