QQQ vs TWN
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Taiwan Fund Inc.
Which is better, QQQ or TWN?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, TWN over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 73.2%.
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 | TWN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.96% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $690M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 4.93% |
| Holdings | 321 | 30 |
| YTD Return | +19.30% | +82.18%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.47% | +102.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | +63.69%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | +33.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.5%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -70.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484 | $41,898Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7%Best | 73.2% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | The Taiwan Fund |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 23, 1986 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Oct 14, 2026 (27.6 years).
QQQ vs TWN 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 27.6 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs TWN Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Taiwan Fund Inc. (TWN) is an ETF from The Taiwan Fund. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while TWN returned +102.97%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 82.18% for TWN.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +63.69% for TWN; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and +33.18% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.05% annualized vs +12.33%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TWN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 30.5% 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 -83.0% for QQQ and -70.2% for TWN. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TWN charges 0.96%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $96 annually, a gap of $78 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 4.93% for TWN.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 30 in TWN, totalling 99.6% and 98.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 123 days apart, QQQ as of Oct 1, 2026 and TWN as of May 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 30 in TWN, against full books of 321 and 30.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for TWN that do not appear in our book for QQQ (0.0% of the fund), and 93 for QQQ that do not appear in TWN (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 TWN 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 TWN?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TWN charges 0.96%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $78 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TWN?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +102.97% for TWN, so TWN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), QQQ annualized +13.05% vs +12.33% for TWN. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TWN?
TWN has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 30.5% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -83.0% vs TWN -70.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TWN?
QQQ and TWN have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 TWN?
QQQ yields 0.42% while TWN yields 4.93%, so TWN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TWN better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, TWN over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 73.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.