QQEW vs QQQ
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Select Equal Weight ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, QQEW or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. QQEW is less concentrated, with 24.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | QQEW | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.9B | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.19% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 102 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +14.15% | +21.69%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.82% | +24.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.73% | +27.05%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.11% | +16.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4%Best | 18.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -58.2% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,768 | $21,286Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.8%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2006 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 25, 2006 to Oct 13, 2026 (20.5 years).
QQEW 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 20.5 years both funds cover.
QQEW vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Select Equal Weight ETF (QQEW) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year QQEW returned +14.82% while QQQ returned +24.10%. Year to date, QQEW is up 14.15% versus a gain of 21.69% for QQQ.
Over three years, QQEW compounded at +15.73% per year against +27.05% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.11% and +16.31% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.28% annualized vs +10.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 18.4% for QQEW. 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 -58.2% for QQEW and -53.5% 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
QQEW charges 0.55% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $18 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQEW currently yields 0.19% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
95.4% of QQEW's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 64.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings QQEW also owns.
Most of QQEW is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
48 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in QQEW and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 102 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 48 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for QQEW (33.7% of the fund), and 0 for QQEW that do not appear in QQQ (0.0%).
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 QQEW | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.11% | 8.45% | 6.34% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.14% | 7.80% | 5.66% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.23% | 5.88% | 3.65% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.06% | 4.85% | 2.79% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.99% | 3.71% | 1.72% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.08% | 3.07% | 0.99% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.65% | 2.74% | 1.09% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 0.89% | 3.15% | 2.26% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 2.16% | 1.69% | 0.47% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 0.90% | 2.93% | 2.03% |
95.4% of QQEW 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, QQEW or QQQ?
QQEW has an expense ratio of 0.55% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQEW or QQQ?
Over the past year QQEW returned +14.82% vs +24.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), QQEW annualized +10.98% vs +15.28% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQEW or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 18.4% for QQEW. Worst drawdown: QQEW -58.2% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both QQEW and QQQ?
QQEW 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 QQEW and QQQ?
95.4% of QQEW's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 64.0% of QQQ's is in holdings QQEW also owns. They hold 48 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in QQEW and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQEW or QQQ?
QQEW yields 0.19% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than QQEW?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. QQEW is less concentrated, with 24.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.