QCJA vs QLD
FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - January vs ProShares Ultra QQQ
Which is better, QCJA or QLD?
QLD has been ahead.
QLD has a lower expense ratio. QLD led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94.
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 | QCJA | QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.90% | 0.89%Best |
| AUM | $75M | $15.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.13% |
| Holdings | 10 | 127 |
| YTD Return | +8.70% | +32.18%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.92% | +36.70%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +43.74% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.62% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.8%Best | 40.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.7%Best | -41.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,002 | $16,245Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Jan 17, 2025 | Jun 19, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 21, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.7 years).
QCJA vs QLD 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
QCJA vs QLD Performance
FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - January (QCJA) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year QCJA returned +11.92% while QLD returned +36.70%. Year to date, QCJA is up 8.70% versus a gain of 32.18% for QLD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 40.8% compared with 6.8% for QCJA. 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 -10.7% for QCJA and -41.8% for QLD. 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
QCJA charges 0.90% per year while QLD charges 0.89%. On a $10,000 position that is $90 vs $89 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QCJA currently yields 0.00% against 0.13% for QLD.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QCJA and QLD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QCJA or QLD?
QCJA has an expense ratio of 0.90% while QLD charges 0.89%. QLD is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QCJA or QLD?
Over the past year QCJA returned +11.92% vs +36.70% for QLD, so QLD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QCJA annualized +11.33% vs +33.03% for QLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QCJA or QLD?
QLD has been the more volatile fund at 40.8% annualized versus 6.8% for QCJA. Worst drawdown: QCJA -10.7% vs QLD -41.8%.
Should I hold both QCJA and QLD?
QCJA and QLD 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, QCJA or QLD?
QCJA yields 0.00% while QLD yields 0.13%, so QLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QLD better than QCJA?
QLD has a lower expense ratio. QLD led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.