QQEW vs QQQE
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Select Equal Weight ETF vs Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index ETF
Which is better, QQEW or QQQE?
Nearly the same fund. QQQE costs less.
QQQE has a lower expense ratio. QQQE led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. QQQE is less concentrated, with 12.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 24.3%.
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 | QQQE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.35%Best |
| AUM | $1.9B | $1.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.13% | 0.59% |
| Holdings | 102 | 205 |
| YTD Return | +11.61% | +16.32%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.04% | +17.55%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.85% | +16.86%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.28% | +8.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 16.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.1%Tie | -32.1%Tie |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,210 | $15,030Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.3% | 12.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2006 | Mar 21, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 21, 2012 to Oct 14, 2026 (14.6 years).
QQEW vs QQQE 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 14.6 years both funds cover.
QQEW vs QQQE Performance
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Select Equal Weight ETF (QQEW) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index ETF (QQQE) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year QQEW returned +12.04% while QQQE returned +17.55%. Year to date, QQEW is up 11.61% versus a gain of 16.32% for QQQE.
Over three years, QQEW compounded at +14.85% per year against +16.86% for QQQE; over five years the annualized figures are +7.28% and +8.49% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQE has the edge at +13.57% annualized vs +13.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQEW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 16.2% for QQQE. 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 -32.1% for QQEW and -32.1% for QQQE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. 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 QQQE charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $35 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQEW currently yields 0.13% against 0.59% for QQQE.
Holdings Overlap
91.2% of QQEW's money is in holdings QQQE also owns. 45.9% of QQQE's money is in holdings QQEW also owns.
Most of QQEW is already inside QQQE. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
46 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in QQEW and 102 in QQQE, against full books of 102 and 205.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 50 positions for QQQE that do not appear in our book for QQEW (49.1% of the fund), and 0 for QQEW that do not appear in QQQE (2.2%).
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 QQEW | Weight in QQQE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 2.67% | 1.34% | 1.33% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd. [Mrvl] | 2.55% | 1.28% | 1.27% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 2.54% | 1.28% | 1.26% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.52% | 1.27% | 1.25% |
| ALABAstera Labs Inc | 2.33% | 1.18% | 1.15% |
| KLACKla Corp. | 2.33% | 1.18% | 1.15% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc. Class A | 2.31% | 1.17% | 1.14% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 2.28% | 1.15% | 1.13% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp|109 | 2.28% | 1.15% | 1.13% |
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 2.25% | 1.13% | 1.12% |
91.2% of QQEW is already inside QQQE.
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 QQQE?
QQEW has an expense ratio of 0.55% while QQQE charges 0.35%. QQQE is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQEW or QQQE?
Over the past year QQEW returned +12.04% vs +17.55% for QQQE, so QQQE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), QQEW annualized +13.11% vs +13.57% for QQQE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQEW or QQQE?
QQEW has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 16.2% for QQQE. Worst drawdown: QQEW -32.1% vs QQQE -32.1%.
Should I hold both QQEW and QQQE?
QQEW and QQQE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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 QQQE?
91.2% of QQEW's money is in holdings QQQE also owns. 45.9% of QQQE's is in holdings QQEW also owns. They hold 46 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in QQEW and 102 in QQQE.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQEW or QQQE?
QQEW yields 0.13% while QQQE yields 0.59%, so QQQE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQE better than QQEW?
QQQE has a lower expense ratio. QQQE led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. QQQE is less concentrated, with 12.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 24.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.