QQQ vs TLCI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Touchstone International Equity ETF
Which is better, QQQ or TLCI?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. TLCI is less concentrated, with 41.5% 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 | TLCI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.37% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $110M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.59% |
| Holdings | 321 | 64 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +1.74% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +1.81% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 12.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -17.0% | -12.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $14,610Best | $10,635 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Touchstone Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 3, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 5, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.6 years).
QQQ vs TLCI 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs TLCI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Touchstone International Equity ETF (TLCI) is an ETF from Touchstone Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while TLCI returned +1.81%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 1.74% for TLCI.
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 12.0% for TLCI. 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 -17.0% for QQQ and -12.2% for TLCI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TLCI charges 0.37%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $37 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.59% for TLCI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 32 in TLCI, totalling 99.6% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 32 in TLCI, against full books of 321 and 64.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for TLCI that do not appear in our book for QQQ (14.0% of the fund), and 93 for QQQ that do not appear in TLCI (96.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and TLCI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or TLCI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TLCI charges 0.37%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TLCI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +1.81% for TLCI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +26.74% vs +3.92% for TLCI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TLCI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 12.0% for TLCI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -17.0% vs TLCI -12.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TLCI?
QQQ and TLCI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or TLCI?
QQQ yields 0.42% while TLCI yields 0.59%, so TLCI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TLCI better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. TLCI is less concentrated, with 41.5% 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.