NUSA vs QQQ
Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, NUSA or QQQ?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Growth.
NUSA has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%.
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 | NUSA | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.14%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $36M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.95% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 692 | 321 |
| YTD Return | -0.22% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.39% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.15% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.40% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.5%Best | 19.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.9%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,720 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.4% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2017 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 3, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (9.5 years).
NUSA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
NUSA vs QQQ Performance
Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year US Aggregate Bond ETF (NUSA) is an ETF from Nuveen and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year NUSA returned +0.39% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, NUSA is down 0.22% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, NUSA compounded at +4.15% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +1.40% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.03% annualized vs +0.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% compared with 2.5% for NUSA. 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 -9.9% for NUSA 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 0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUSA charges 0.14% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $14 vs $18 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUSA currently yields 3.95% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
60.6% of NUSA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 44.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings NUSA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
14 positions in common, counted across the 32 positions we hold weights for in NUSA and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 692 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 78 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for NUSA (51.7% of the fund), and 16 for NUSA that do not appear in QQQ (37.0%).
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 NUSA | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 9.75% | 8.33% | 1.42% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 8.84% | 5.76% | 3.08% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.20% | 7.35% | 3.15% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 6.11% | 4.07% | 2.04% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 6.23% | 3.05% | 3.18% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.76% | 5.02% | 1.26% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.97% | 3.26% | 0.71% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.24% | 2.53% | 1.71% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 4.39% | 1.72% | 2.67% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 1.09% | 2.11% | 1.02% |
60.6% of NUSA 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, NUSA or QQQ?
NUSA has an expense ratio of 0.14% while QQQ charges 0.18%. NUSA is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUSA or QQQ?
Over the past year NUSA returned +0.39% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), NUSA annualized +0.87% vs +20.03% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUSA or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.5% annualized versus 2.5% for NUSA. Worst drawdown: NUSA -9.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both NUSA and QQQ?
NUSA and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.43, 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 NUSA and QQQ?
60.6% of NUSA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 44.6% of QQQ's is in holdings NUSA also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 32 positions we hold weights for in NUSA and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUSA or QQQ?
NUSA yields 3.95% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so NUSA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than NUSA?
NUSA has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.