QQQ vs XDEF
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XDEF?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.1%.
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 | XDEF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $4M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.41% |
| Holdings | 107 | 37 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | -10.44% |
| 1Y Return | +22.10% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.27% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.60% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 64.1% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Xtrackers ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 19, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
QQQ vs XDEF 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 XDEF Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF (XDEF) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a loss of 10.44% for XDEF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XDEF charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $35 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.41% for XDEF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 35 in XDEF, totalling 99.9% and 99.8% 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 35 in XDEF, against full books of 107 and 37.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for XDEF that do not appear in our book for QQQ (0.4% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in XDEF (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 XDEF 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 XDEF?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XDEF charges 0.35%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or XDEF?
QQQ yields 0.44% while XDEF yields 1.41%, so XDEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XDEF better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.