QQQ vs USO
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs United States Oil Fund
Which is better, QQQ or USO?
Large Cap Growth against Energy.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, USO over 1Y and 5Y.
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 | USO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.86% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $1.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 321 | 39 |
| YTD Return | +19.30% | +122.68%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.47% | +122.55%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18%Best | +25.17% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | +22.01%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6%Best | 37.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -98.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484 | $27,038Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | USCF Investments |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Energy |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 10, 2006 to Oct 14, 2026 (20.5 years).
QQQ vs USO 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs USO Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and United States Oil Fund (USO) is an ETF from USCF Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while USO returned +122.55%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 122.68% for USO.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +25.17% for USO; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and +22.01% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.08% annualized vs -5.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 37.7% compared with 18.6% 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -98.2% for USO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while USO charges 0.86%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $86 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.00% for USO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 1 in USO, totalling 99.6% and 6.9% 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 1 in USO, against full books of 321 and 39.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and USO 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 USO?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while USO charges 0.86%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or USO?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +122.55% for USO, so USO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), QQQ annualized +15.08% vs -5.98% for USO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or USO?
USO has been the more volatile fund at 37.7% annualized versus 18.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs USO -98.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and USO?
QQQ and USO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.24, 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 USO?
QQQ yields 0.42% while USO yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USO better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, USO over 1Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.