QQQ vs TRIO
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs MC Trio Equity Buffered ETF
Which is better, QQQ or TRIO?
Large Cap Growth against Multi Alternative.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | TRIO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.70% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $123M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 321 | 3 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +7.51% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +1.14% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 8.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.7% | -11.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $15,031Best | $11,063 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7% | - |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | McCarthy & Cox |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 5, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 6, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.6 years).
QQQ vs TRIO 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 TRIO Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and MC Trio Equity Buffered ETF (TRIO) is an ETF from McCarthy & Cox. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while TRIO returned +1.14%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 7.51% for TRIO.
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 8.8% for TRIO. 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 -15.7% for QQQ and -11.1% for TRIO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TRIO charges 0.70%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $70 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.00% for TRIO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 10 in TRIO, totalling 99.6% and 103.1% 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 10 in TRIO, against full books of 321 and 3.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 101 and 10 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 93 positions TRIO does not, 96.3% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.33%, AAPL 7.35%, MSFT 5.76%, MU 5.02%, AMD 4.17%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and TRIO 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 TRIO?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TRIO charges 0.70%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TRIO?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +1.14% for TRIO, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +29.01% vs +6.52% for TRIO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TRIO?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 8.8% for TRIO. Worst drawdown: QQQ -15.7% vs TRIO -11.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TRIO?
QQQ and TRIO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 TRIO?
QQQ yields 0.42% while TRIO yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TRIO better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.