ADME vs QQQ
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ADME or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ADME is less concentrated, with 40.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.
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 | ADME | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $313M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.36% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 167 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +9.94% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.86% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.81% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.38% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.4%Best | 18.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.7%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,276 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.3%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | Aptus ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 8, 2016 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 9, 2016 to Oct 14, 2026 (10.3 years).
ADME vs QQQ 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 10.3 years both funds cover.
ADME vs QQQ Performance
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF (ADME) is an ETF from Aptus ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year ADME returned +10.86% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, ADME is up 9.94% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, ADME compounded at +16.81% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +7.38% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.42% annualized vs +8.38%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 13.4% for ADME. 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 -28.7% for ADME and -35.1% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ADME charges 0.79% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $18 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ADME currently yields 0.36% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
54.3% of ADME's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 81.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings ADME also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside ADME. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
52 positions in common, counted across the 164 positions we hold weights for in ADME and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 167 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 40 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ADME (14.5% of the fund), and 110 for ADME that do not appear in QQQ (44.5%).
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 ADME | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.85% | 8.33% | 0.48% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.44% | 7.35% | 0.09% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.70% | 5.76% | 0.06% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc.- Cl C | 5.56% | 2.85% | 2.71% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.74% | 4.07% | 0.33% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.64% | 5.02% | 3.38% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.26% | 3.26% | 1.00% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 1.32% | 4.17% | 2.85% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.47% | 2.53% | 0.06% |
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 1.55% | 2.82% | 1.27% |
81.8% of QQQ is already inside ADME.
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, ADME or QQQ?
ADME has an expense ratio of 0.79% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ADME or QQQ?
Over the past year ADME returned +10.86% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), ADME annualized +8.38% vs +20.42% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ADME or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 13.4% for ADME. Worst drawdown: ADME -28.7% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both ADME and QQQ?
ADME and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 ADME and QQQ?
81.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings ADME also owns. 81.8% of QQQ's is in holdings ADME also owns. They hold 52 positions in common, counted across the 164 positions we hold weights for in ADME and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, ADME or QQQ?
ADME yields 0.36% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ADME?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ADME is less concentrated, with 40.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.