AQLT vs QQQ
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, AQLT or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. AQLT is less concentrated, with 40.6% 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 | AQLT | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $346M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 515 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +13.25% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.05% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +26.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.42% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 19.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.8%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,933 | $13,891Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.6%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.8 years).
AQLT 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
AQLT vs QQQ Performance
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF (AQLT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year AQLT returned +19.05% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, AQLT is up 13.25% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 12.4% for AQLT. 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 -16.8% for AQLT and -22.8% 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQLT charges 0.20% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $18 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQLT currently yields 0.98% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
48.3% of AQLT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 55.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings AQLT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
43 positions in common, counted across the 482 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 515 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 51 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for AQLT (41.6% of the fund), and 91 for AQLT that do not appear in QQQ (26.6%).
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 AQLT | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 5.00% | 8.33% | 3.33% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.28% | 7.35% | 2.07% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.86% | 5.76% | 0.10% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 5.08% | 3.26% | 1.82% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.99% | 2.53% | 1.46% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc-cl A | 2.33% | 3.05% | 0.72% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc.- Cl C | 1.83% | 2.85% | 1.02% |
| ASML:ASASML HOLDING NV | 2.64% | 0.71% | 1.93% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 1.19% | 2.11% | 0.92% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.56% | 1.72% | 0.16% |
55.6% of QQQ is already inside AQLT.
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, AQLT or QQQ?
AQLT has an expense ratio of 0.20% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AQLT or QQQ?
Over the past year AQLT returned +19.05% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AQLT annualized +15.36% vs +20.03% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AQLT or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 12.4% for AQLT. Worst drawdown: AQLT -16.8% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both AQLT and QQQ?
AQLT and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 AQLT and QQQ?
55.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings AQLT also owns. 55.6% of QQQ's is in holdings AQLT also owns. They hold 43 positions in common, counted across the 482 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQLT or QQQ?
AQLT yields 0.98% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so AQLT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than AQLT?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. AQLT is less concentrated, with 40.6% 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.