GIAX vs QQQ
Nicholas Global Equity and Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GIAX or QQQ?
Multi Alternative 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 0.94. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.2%.
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 | GIAX | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.03% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $115M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 24.34% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 87 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +12.20% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.86% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +26.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.42% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7% | 17.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -20.4%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $13,082 | $16,092Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 57.2% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | XFunds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 29, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.2 years).
GIAX 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 2.2 years both funds cover.
GIAX vs QQQ Performance
Nicholas Global Equity and Income ETF (GIAX) is an ETF from XFunds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GIAX returned +12.86% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, GIAX is up 12.20% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GIAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.7% compared with 17.6% 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 -20.4% for GIAX 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 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GIAX charges 1.03% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $103 vs $18 annually, a gap of $85 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GIAX currently yields 24.34% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
44.0% of GIAX's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 44.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings GIAX also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
12 positions in common, counted across the 27 positions we hold weights for in GIAX and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 87 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 81 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for GIAX (51.8% of the fund), and 12 for GIAX that do not appear in QQQ (48.9%).
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 GIAX | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.14% | 8.33% | 4.19% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 6.72% | 5.02% | 1.70% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.05% | 7.35% | 3.30% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.61% | 5.76% | 1.15% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.79% | 4.07% | 0.28% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.59% | 3.26% | 0.33% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.73% | 3.05% | 0.68% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 3.07% | 2.82% | 0.25% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.28% | 2.53% | 0.75% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 3.64% | 1.80% | 1.84% |
44.5% of QQQ is already inside GIAX.
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, GIAX or QQQ?
GIAX has an expense ratio of 1.03% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $85 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GIAX or QQQ?
Over the past year GIAX returned +12.86% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), GIAX annualized +12.99% vs +24.14% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GIAX or QQQ?
GIAX has been the more volatile fund at 20.7% annualized versus 17.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: GIAX -20.4% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both GIAX and QQQ?
GIAX and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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 GIAX and QQQ?
44.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings GIAX also owns. 44.5% of QQQ's is in holdings GIAX also owns. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 27 positions we hold weights for in GIAX and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, GIAX or QQQ?
GIAX yields 24.34% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so GIAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GIAX?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.