QLV vs QQQ
Northern Trust US Quality Low Volatility ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, QLV or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QLV has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QLV is less concentrated, with 36.8% 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 | QLV | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.08%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $171M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.50% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 125 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +13.30% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.01% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.91% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.85% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.6%Best | 20.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.0%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,737 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.8%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 15, 2019 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 16, 2019 to Oct 14, 2026 (7.2 years).
QLV 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 7.2 years both funds cover.
QLV vs QQQ Performance
Northern Trust US Quality Low Volatility ETF (QLV) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year QLV returned +14.01% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, QLV is up 13.30% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, QLV compounded at +16.91% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +10.85% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.67% annualized vs +11.51%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 13.6% for QLV. 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 -34.0% for QLV 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLV charges 0.08% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $8 vs $18 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLV currently yields 1.50% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
38.5% of QLV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 58.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings QLV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
24 positions in common, counted across the 120 positions we hold weights for in QLV and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 125 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 69 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for QLV (38.0% of the fund), and 89 for QLV that do not appear in QQQ (58.2%).
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 QLV | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.86% | 8.33% | 1.47% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.09% | 7.35% | 1.26% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 6.58% | 5.76% | 0.82% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.46% | 4.07% | 1.61% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.56% | 5.02% | 4.46% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc-cl A | 1.94% | 3.05% | 1.11% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.81% | 2.53% | 0.72% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc.- Cl C | 1.47% | 2.85% | 1.38% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.04% | 3.26% | 2.22% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 0.06% | 4.17% | 4.11% |
58.3% of QQQ is already inside QLV.
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, QLV or QQQ?
QLV has an expense ratio of 0.08% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QLV is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QLV or QQQ?
Over the past year QLV returned +14.01% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), QLV annualized +11.51% vs +20.67% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QLV or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 13.6% for QLV. Worst drawdown: QLV -34.0% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both QLV and QQQ?
QLV and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 QLV and QQQ?
58.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings QLV also owns. 58.3% of QQQ's is in holdings QLV also owns. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 120 positions we hold weights for in QLV and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, QLV or QQQ?
QLV yields 1.50% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QLV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than QLV?
QLV has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QLV is less concentrated, with 36.8% 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.