BSEP vs QQQ
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BSEP or QQQ?
Option Writing against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BSEP is less concentrated, with 37.7% 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 | BSEP | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $470M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 1,520 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +10.32% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.43% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.86% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.29% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.6%Best | 20.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.0%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,072 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.7%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 30, 2019 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 3, 2019 to Oct 14, 2026 (7.1 years).
BSEP 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 7.1 years both funds cover.
BSEP vs QQQ Performance
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September (BSEP) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BSEP returned +13.43% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, BSEP is up 10.32% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, BSEP compounded at +16.86% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +11.29% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +21.77% annualized vs +12.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.5% compared with 11.6% for BSEP. 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 -24.0% for BSEP 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BSEP 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, BSEP currently yields 0.00% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
52.2% of BSEP's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 88.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings BSEP also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside BSEP. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
82 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in BSEP and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 1,520 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 10 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for BSEP (7.5% of the fund), and 407 for BSEP that do not appear in QQQ (45.8%).
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 BSEP | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.91% | 8.33% | 0.42% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.30% | 7.35% | 0.05% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.51% | 5.76% | 0.25% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.76% | 4.07% | 0.31% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.64% | 5.02% | 3.38% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc-cl A | 2.97% | 3.05% | 0.08% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 1.26% | 4.17% | 2.91% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.13% | 3.26% | 1.13% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc.- Cl C | 2.37% | 2.85% | 0.48% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.56% | 2.53% | 0.03% |
88.8% of QQQ is already inside BSEP.
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, BSEP or QQQ?
BSEP 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, BSEP or QQQ?
Over the past year BSEP returned +13.43% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BSEP annualized +12.08% vs +21.77% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BSEP or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.5% annualized versus 11.6% for BSEP. Worst drawdown: BSEP -24.0% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both BSEP and QQQ?
BSEP and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 BSEP and QQQ?
88.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings BSEP also owns. 88.8% of QQQ's is in holdings BSEP also owns. They hold 82 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in BSEP and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BSEP or QQQ?
BSEP yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BSEP?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BSEP is less concentrated, with 37.7% 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.