QQQ vs XLI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XLI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
XLI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XLI is less concentrated, with 39.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | XLI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $31.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.18% |
| Holdings | 107 | 84 |
| YTD Return | +15.21%Best | +7.36% |
| 1Y Return | +19.78%Best | +12.55% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.58%Best | +18.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.93%Best | +12.40% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.6% | 18.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -63.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,195Best | $17,940 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 39.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 16, 2026 (27.5 years).
QQQ vs XLI 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 27.5 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs XLI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% while XLI returned +12.55%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.21% versus a gain of 7.36% for XLI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.58% per year against +18.81% for XLI; over five years the annualized figures are +13.93% and +12.40% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.95% annualized vs +7.44%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 18.8% for XLI. 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 -83.0% for QQQ and -63.3% for XLI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XLI charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $8 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.18% for XLI.
Holdings Overlap
3.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings XLI also owns. 12.1% of XLI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
XLI and QQQ share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 84 in XLI, against full books of 107 and 84.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 102 and 84 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 85 positions XLI does not, 94.4% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.44%, AAPL 7.27%, MSFT 5.76%, AMZN 4.67%, MU 4.43%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in XLI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.47% | 2.09% | 1.62% |
| CSXCsx Corp. | 0.42% | 1.67% | 1.25% |
| CTASCintas Corp. | 0.35% | 1.26% | 0.91% |
| HONHoneywell International Inc. | 0.35% | 1.23% | 0.88% |
| PCARPaccar Inc. | 0.31% | 1.19% | 0.88% |
| FASTFastenal Co. | 0.25% | 1.03% | 0.78% |
| HONAHoneywell Aerospace Inc | 0.28% | 0.90% | 0.62% |
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 0.22% | 0.77% | 0.55% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 0.19% | 0.75% | 0.56% |
| ODFLOld Dominion Freig | 0.20% | 0.63% | 0.43% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and XLI 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 XLI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XLI charges 0.08%. XLI is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or XLI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% vs +12.55% for XLI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), QQQ annualized +12.95% vs +7.44% for XLI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or XLI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 18.8% for XLI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -83.0% vs XLI -63.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and XLI?
QQQ and XLI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 XLI?
12.1% of XLI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 12.1% of XLI's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 84 in XLI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or XLI?
QQQ yields 0.44% while XLI yields 1.18%, so XLI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLI better than QQQ?
XLI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XLI is less concentrated, with 39.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.