QQQ vs XPND
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs First Trust Expanded Technology ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XPND?
Nearly the same fund. QQQ costs less.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.2%.
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 | XPND |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $39M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.08% |
| Holdings | 107 | 102 |
| YTD Return | +15.21%Best | +6.63% |
| 1Y Return | +19.78%Best | +6.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.58%Best | +22.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.93%Best | +12.26% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7%Best | 21.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -38.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,195Best | $17,829 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 48.2% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 14, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 15, 2021 to Sep 16, 2026 (5.3 years).
QQQ vs XPND 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 5.3 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs XPND Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and First Trust Expanded Technology ETF (XPND) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% while XPND returned +6.58%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.21% versus a gain of 6.63% for XPND.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.58% per year against +22.01% for XPND; over five years the annualized figures are +13.93% and +12.26% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XPND has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.6% compared with 20.7% 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -38.0% for XPND. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XPND charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $65 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.08% for XPND.
Holdings Overlap
41.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings XPND also owns. 71.9% of XPND's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of XPND is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
25 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 50 in XPND, against full books of 107 and 102.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 25 positions for XPND that do not appear in our book for QQQ (27.9% of the fund), and 71 for QQQ that do not appear in XPND (56.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in XPND | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 4.86% | 3.58% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 4.72% | 2.55% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 4.15% | 0.79% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 1.60% | 5.54% | 3.94% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 3.86% | 0.70% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 1.86% | 4.74% | 2.88% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.10% | 4.27% | 2.17% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 1.69% | 4.41% | 2.72% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 1.37% | 4.38% | 3.01% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 1.30% | 4.31% | 3.01% |
71.9% of XPND is already inside QQQ.
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 XPND?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XPND charges 0.65%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or XPND?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% vs +6.58% for XPND, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or XPND?
XPND has been the more volatile fund at 21.6% annualized versus 20.7% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs XPND -38.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and XPND?
QQQ and XPND have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and XPND?
71.9% of XPND's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 71.9% of XPND's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 50 in XPND.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or XPND?
QQQ yields 0.44% while XPND yields 0.08%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XPND better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.