QQQ vs RFFC
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs ALPS Active Equity Opportunity ETF
Which is better, QQQ or RFFC?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RFFC is less concentrated, with 41.9% 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 | QQQ | RFFC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.48% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $31M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.63% |
| Holdings | 321 | 59 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +14.46% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +20.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18%Best | +22.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42%Best | +12.35% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -36.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484Best | $17,901 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7% | 41.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | ALPS Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 6, 2016 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 7, 2016 to Oct 14, 2026 (10.4 years).
QQQ vs RFFC 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 10.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs RFFC Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ALPS Active Equity Opportunity ETF (RFFC) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while RFFC returned +20.94%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 14.46% for RFFC.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +22.01% for RFFC; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and +12.35% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.41% annualized vs +12.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 16.0% for RFFC. 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 -36.5% for RFFC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RFFC charges 0.48%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $48 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.63% for RFFC.
Holdings Overlap
43.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings RFFC also owns. 42.4% of RFFC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 60 in RFFC, against full books of 321 and 59.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 38 positions for RFFC that do not appear in our book for QQQ (48.6% of the fund), and 76 for QQQ that do not appear in RFFC (53.6%).
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 RFFC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.33% | 5.64% | 2.69% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.35% | 5.43% | 1.92% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.76% | 5.90% | 0.14% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc-cl A | 3.05% | 4.70% | 1.65% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.07% | 3.55% | 0.52% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 3.26% | 2.37% | 0.89% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 2.64% | 2.20% | 0.44% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp|109 | 1.72% | 2.23% | 0.51% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 2.11% | 1.49% | 0.62% |
| CTOCostco Wholesale Corp | 1.69% | 0.85% | 0.84% |
43.6% of QQQ is already inside RFFC.
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 RFFC?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RFFC charges 0.48%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RFFC?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +20.94% for RFFC, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), QQQ annualized +20.41% vs +12.01% for RFFC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RFFC?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 16.0% for RFFC. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs RFFC -36.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RFFC?
QQQ and RFFC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 RFFC?
43.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings RFFC also owns. 42.4% of RFFC's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 60 in RFFC.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or RFFC?
QQQ yields 0.42% while RFFC yields 0.63%, so RFFC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RFFC better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RFFC is less concentrated, with 41.9% 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.