QQQ vs QQQA
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dorsey Wright Momentum ETF
Which is better, QQQ or QQQA?
Each has led over a different period.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, QQQA over 1Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 53.6%.
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 | QQQ | QQQA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.58% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $53M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.03% |
| Holdings | 321 | 21 |
| YTD Return | +21.69% | +40.24%Best |
| 1Y Return | +24.10% | +47.35%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.05%Best | +26.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.31%Best | +10.97% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4%Best | 26.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -38.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,286Best | $16,828 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2%Best | 53.6% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 18, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 20, 2021 to Oct 13, 2026 (5.4 years).
QQQ vs QQQA 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 5.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs QQQA Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dorsey Wright Momentum ETF (QQQA) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.10% while QQQA returned +47.35%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.69% versus a gain of 40.24% for QQQA.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +27.05% per year against +26.87% for QQQA; over five years the annualized figures are +16.31% and +10.97% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.4% compared with 20.4% for QQQ. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -38.4% for QQQA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while QQQA charges 0.58%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $58 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.03% for QQQA.
Holdings Overlap
22.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings QQQA also owns. 99.9% of QQQA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQA is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
21 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 21 in QQQA, against full books of 321 and 21.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for QQQA that do not appear in our book for QQQ (0.0% of the fund), and 76 for QQQ that do not appear in QQQA (76.4%).
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 QQQ | Weight in QQQA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.71% | 4.61% | 0.90% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.15% | 5.10% | 1.95% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 0.93% | 6.55% | 5.62% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 1.19% | 5.97% | 4.78% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 2.28% | 4.61% | 2.33% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.95% | 4.73% | 2.78% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 0.50% | 5.63% | 5.13% |
| DASHDoordash Inc - A | 0.37% | 5.53% | 5.16% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.64% | 4.07% | 2.43% |
| ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. | 0.33% | 5.38% | 5.05% |
99.9% of QQQA 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, QQQ or QQQA?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while QQQA charges 0.58%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or QQQA?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.10% vs +47.35% for QQQA, so QQQA leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or QQQA?
QQQA has been the more volatile fund at 26.4% annualized versus 20.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs QQQA -38.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and QQQA?
QQQ and QQQA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 QQQ and QQQA?
99.9% of QQQA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 99.9% of QQQA's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 21 in QQQA.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or QQQA?
QQQ yields 0.42% while QQQA yields 0.03%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQA better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, QQQA over 1Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 53.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.