QQQ vs SEPQ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SEPQ?
Large Cap Growth against Multi Alternative.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% 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 | QQQ | SEPQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $95M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 11.29% |
| Holdings | 321 | 196 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +18.23% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +19.72% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18%Best | +21.68% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.9% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -23.4% |
| $10,000 over 4.4 years | $25,840Best | $18,256 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Shelton Capital Management |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 18, 2022 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2022 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.4 years).
QQQ vs SEPQ 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 4.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SEPQ Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (SEPQ) is an ETF from Shelton Capital Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while SEPQ returned +19.72%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 18.23% for SEPQ.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +21.68% for SEPQ. Across the full 4-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +24.08% annualized vs +14.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 16.9% for SEPQ. 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -23.4% for SEPQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SEPQ charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $65 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 11.29% for SEPQ.
Holdings Overlap
89.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings SEPQ also owns. 91.0% of SEPQ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of SEPQ is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
85 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 97 in SEPQ, against full books of 321 and 196.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 10 positions for SEPQ that do not appear in our book for QQQ (3.3% of the fund), and 10 for QQQ that do not appear in SEPQ (7.7%).
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 SEPQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.33% | 7.57% | 0.76% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.35% | 8.17% | 0.82% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 6.25% | 0.49% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 5.02% | 4.52% | 0.50% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.07% | 4.29% | 0.22% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.17% | 3.50% | 0.67% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.26% | 3.55% | 0.29% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.05% | 3.38% | 0.33% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.85% | 3.10% | 0.25% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.82% | 2.88% | 0.06% |
91.0% of SEPQ 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 SEPQ?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SEPQ charges 0.65%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SEPQ?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +19.72% for SEPQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), QQQ annualized +24.08% vs +14.66% for SEPQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SEPQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 16.9% for SEPQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SEPQ -23.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SEPQ?
QQQ and SEPQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 SEPQ?
91.0% of SEPQ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 91.0% of SEPQ's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 85 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 97 in SEPQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SEPQ?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SEPQ yields 11.29%, so SEPQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEPQ better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% 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.