QQQ vs XYLD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XYLD?
Large Cap Growth against Multi Alternative.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XYLD is less concentrated, with 38.4% 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 | XYLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.60% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $3.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 10.44% |
| Holdings | 321 | 1,014 |
| YTD Return | +24.32%Best | +11.34% |
| 1Y Return | +25.59%Best | +18.14% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.30%Best | +13.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.83%Best | +7.97% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.8% | 11.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -34.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,766Best | $14,673 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 38.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Global X by mirae Asset |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 21, 2013 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 24, 2013 to Oct 6, 2026 (13.3 years).
QQQ vs XYLD 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 XYLD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset. Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% while XYLD returned +18.14%. Year to date, QQQ is up 24.32% versus a gain of 11.34% for XYLD.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +28.30% per year against +13.73% for XYLD; over five years the annualized figures are +16.83% and +7.97% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.00% annualized vs +5.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.8% compared with 11.1% for XYLD. 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 -34.7% for XYLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XYLD charges 0.60%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $60 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 10.44% for XYLD.
Holdings Overlap
94.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings XYLD also owns. 54.4% of XYLD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside XYLD. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
86 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 494 in XYLD, against full books of 321 and 1,014.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 403 positions for XYLD that do not appear in our book for QQQ (45.3% of the fund), and 10 for QQQ that do not appear in XYLD (3.5%).
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 XYLD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.45% | 8.05% | 0.40% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.80% | 7.43% | 0.37% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.88% | 5.61% | 0.27% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.41% | 3.83% | 0.58% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.85% | 1.67% | 3.18% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.15% | 3.02% | 0.13% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.74% | 2.61% | 0.13% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.93% | 2.41% | 0.52% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.07% | 2.17% | 0.90% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.71% | 1.28% | 2.43% |
94.2% of QQQ is already inside XYLD.
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 XYLD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XYLD charges 0.60%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or XYLD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% vs +18.14% for XYLD, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), QQQ annualized +20.00% vs +5.08% for XYLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or XYLD?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.8% annualized versus 11.1% for XYLD. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs XYLD -34.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and XYLD?
QQQ and XYLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 XYLD?
94.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings XYLD also owns. 54.4% of XYLD's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 86 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 494 in XYLD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or XYLD?
QQQ yields 0.42% while XYLD yields 10.44%, so XYLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XYLD better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XYLD is less concentrated, with 38.4% 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.