BELT vs QQQ
iShares US Select Equity Active ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BELT or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.5%.
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 | BELT | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.02% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 20 | 321 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 18.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.1% | -22.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $13,054 | $14,954Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 68.5% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 63 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. BELT has data through Aug 12, 2026 and QQQ through Oct 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2024 to Aug 12, 2026 (2.1 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BELT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 18.0% 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 -23.1% for BELT 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BELT charges 0.75% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $18 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BELT currently yields 0.02% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
48.2% of BELT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 25.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings BELT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 57 days apart, BELT as of Aug 5, 2026 and QQQ as of Oct 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
8 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in BELT and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 20 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 85 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for BELT (70.6% of the fund), and 9 for BELT that do not appear in QQQ (42.6%).
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 BELT | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 8.66% | 4.07% | 4.59% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.27% | 5.76% | 0.51% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 8.04% | 2.85% | 5.19% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 7.97% | 2.53% | 5.44% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 5.04% | 2.64% | 2.40% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.41% | 4.17% | 0.76% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.02% | 3.26% | 0.76% |
| CDNSCadence Design Systems Inc. | 4.76% | 0.38% | 4.38% |
48.2% of BELT 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, BELT or QQQ?
BELT has an expense ratio of 0.75% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, BELT or QQQ?
BELT has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 18.0% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: BELT -23.1% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both BELT and QQQ?
BELT and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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 BELT and QQQ?
48.2% of BELT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 25.7% of QQQ's is in holdings BELT also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in BELT and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BELT or QQQ?
BELT yields 0.02% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BELT?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.