What is the fundamental difference between QQQ and QTOP?

Invesco QQQ Trust (stock_1) has a long track record since 1999 with net assets exceeding $484 billion. iShares NASDAQ Top 30 Stocks ETF (stock_2) launched in October 2024, has $297 million in net assets, and targets top 30 holdings. While both focus on large growth, they differ in maturity, scale, and portfolio construction.

How do the expense ratios compare between these two ETFs?

QQQ charges a 0.18% annual expense ratio, while QTOP charges 0.20%. This 0.02 percentage point difference is minor but may influence long-term net returns. Beginners should evaluate fee differences in the context of each fund’s structure, track record, and investment objectives rather than focusing solely on cost.

What does the fund’s inception date tell investors?

The inception date reveals a fund’s operating history. QQQ launched in March 1999, offering decades of performance data and transparency. QTOP started in October 2024, providing limited history and potentially less visibility into long-term fund behaviour. Investors should consider both historical performance and forward-looking objectives when evaluating each fund.

How similar are the top holdings in QQQ and QTOP?

Both funds share identical top 10 holdings: NVDA, AAPL, MSFT, MU, AMZN, AMD, GOOGL, META, GOOG and TSLA. However, QTOP allocates more heavily to the largest names. QQQ may include more securities outside its top 10 to follow its full index, while QTOP likely concentrates more weight in its largest positions.

What is a top 30 strategy and how does it work?

A top 30 strategy, like the one used by QTOP, aims to hold the 30 largest positions in a specific universe of stocks. This approach potentially reduces broader market noise compared to funds tracking wider benchmarks. However, it often involves higher concentration risk because the fund depends more heavily on a smaller number of individual companies.

What are the implications of QQQ's top-ten concentration?

QQQ's top ten holdings account for a significant portion of its assets, primarily in large-growth technology names. This concentration can result in high correlation with the performance of these specific companies. Investors should consider that the fund's performance will depend heavily on these stocks. Diversification within the index mitigates some risk.

What should investors know about dividend yields for these ETFs?

QQQ has a 0.41% dividend yield, while QTOP has a 0.32% yield. These figures show current annual distributions as a percentage of the current share price. Dividends are not fixed and vary by company performance. Investors typically choose these funds for capital appreciation rather than high income, as their yields are relatively low.

How does each fund relate to the Nasdaq market?

QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. QTOP targets the top 30 Nasdaq stocks, a subset that may or may not exactly mirror the very largest of the Nasdaq-100. The relationship of QTOP to its underlying benchmark is less clear than QQQ.

How can I understand the sector weightings of QQQ?

Sector weightings for QQQ are not directly provided in this comparison. Generally, the fund holds a substantial allocation to technology and consumer discretionary sectors, reflecting its focus on the Nasdaq-100. Investors should research the specific sector breakdown for QQQ using its official fact sheet, as this data is essential for assessing diversification.

What does it mean that the tracked index is not available?

The 'not available' status for 'index tracked' is confusing and should be clarified by official sources. Investors should review the prospectus of both funds to understand their precise investment objectives and the specific benchmarks or strategies they follow. This information is crucial before considering any investment.

Which fund has higher net assets and why does it matter?

QQQ holds $484.3 billion in net assets, making it a major, highly liquid fund. QTOP, launched recently, holds $297 million. Larger asset bases are often associated with better liquidity and tighter bid-ask spreads, which can be advantageous for trading efficiency, especially in large transactions.

How do I assess suitability for my investing goal?

Investors typically choose funds to align with their goals. For example, if a goal is long-term exposure to large growth, a fund with a long history like QQQ could be evaluated. Alternatively, for a focus on top holdings, QTOP's concentrated approach might be assessed. Investors should consider their own investment objectives and risk tolerance.

QQQ vs QTOP

Two funds, one decision: we compare cost, performance and what each ETF actually holds in September 2026.

Compare Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 and iShares NASDAQ Top 30 Stocks ETF. This page examines expense ratios, top holdings, dividend yields, and how each fund tracks the market. Educational content, not financial advice.

Fund Snapshot

Key Fund Metrics

QQQ

Metric

QTOP

0.18%

Expense Ratio

0.20%

0.41%

Dividend Yield

0.32%

$484.28B

Net Assets

$297.06M

104

Holdings

Mar 10, 1999

Inception Date

Oct 24, 2024

–

Index Tracked

–

Large Growth

Fund Category

Large Growth

QQQ costs about $2.00 less per year for every $10,000 invested.

Shared Top Holdings

Holding	QQQ	QTOP
NVDANVIDIA Corporation	8.52%	10.75%
AAPLApple Inc.	7.82%	9.85%
MSFTMicrosoft Corporation	5.81%	7.36%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.	5.01%	6.36%
AMZNAmazon.com, Inc.	4.32%	4.29%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.	3.99%	5.19%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc.	3.22%	4.12%
METAMeta Platforms, Inc.	3.12%	4.07%
GOOGAlphabet Inc.	2.97%	3.82%
TSLATesla, Inc.	2.88%	3.93%

Discover More Comparisons

QQQ vs QYLD

Compare QQQ vs QYLD: expenses, holdings, yields, and tracking. QQQ charges 0.18%; QYLD 0.60% with 11.5% yield. Examine fees, dividends, and structure.

QQQ vs VOO

QQQ vs VOO compared: 0.18% vs 0.03% expense ratio, Nasdaq-100 vs S&P 500, top holdings overlap, dividend yield and which fund fits which goal.

QQQ vs TQQQ

Compare QQQ vs TQQQ expense ratios, dividends and holdings. Review tracking methods, net assets and growth differences to inform your ETF research.

Investment Analysis

QQQ

Pros

QQQ has very low 0.18% expense ratio
Net assets exceed $484 billion
Trades since 1999 with long track record

Considerations

Index tracked is not available
Sector weights are not available
Top 10 holdings concentrate large growth exposure

QTOP

Pros

Low 0.20% expense ratio
Top 30 strategy may reduce broader market noise
Yields 0.32% dividend

Considerations

Net assets only $297 million
Inception October 2024 limits operating history
Index tracked not available

Related Market Insights

The ETF Revolution: Why Smart Money Is Choosing Baskets Over Individual Stocks

Discover why smart investors choose ETFs for instant diversification, lower costs, and professional portfolio construction. Explore top ETFs like SPY, QQQ, DIA on Nemo.

Aimee Silverwood | Financial Analyst

25 July 2025

Read Insight

Related Market Insights

The ETF Revolution: Why Smart Money Is Choosing Baskets Over Individual Stocks

Discover why smart investors choose ETFs for instant diversification, lower costs, and professional portfolio construction. Explore top ETFs like SPY, QQQ, DIA on Nemo.

Aimee Silverwood | Financial Analyst

25 July 2025

Read Insight

About QQQ and QTOP

QQQ (QQQ)

Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (QQQ) is a widely traded exchange‑traded fund that seeks to track the Nasdaq‑100 Index, offering concentrated exposure to large non‑financial companies listed on the Nasdaq — think technology, consumer and biotech leaders. It provides a convenient way to gain growth-oriented exposure to a basket of big-cap, often high-growth names, with intraday liquidity like a stock. Investors should know QQQ is relatively concentrated in a handful of large issuers and sectors, which can amplify both upside and downside versus broader-market funds. It pays modest dividends and typically has higher volatility than diversified market-cap indices. As with any ETF, past performance does not predict future returns; values can fall as well as rise. This content is educational and not personalised advice — consider your risk tolerance, investment horizon and diversification needs before investing, and consult a regulated adviser for tailored guidance.

QTOP (QTOP)

The iShares NASDAQ Top 30 Stocks ETF (QTOP) is an exchange-traded fund launched in October 2024, designed to provide investors with targeted exposure to leading large-growth companies. This fund holds approximately 35 positions and operates with a moderate expense ratio of 0.20%. With net assets of USD 297 million, it offers liquidity and scale. While the fund generates a modest dividend yield of 0.32%, its primary focus is on capital appreciation through its growth-oriented strategy. As a newer investment vehicle, QTOP aims to capture the performance of top-performing stocks within the NASDAQ universe. Investors should note that values can rise and fall, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. This summary is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice.

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Popular ETFs

ETFs give you an easy way to invest in a basket of companies at once. These carefully selected exchange-traded funds were chosen by our professional analysts to help you diversify and reduce risk while still capturing market growth.

Published: 24 May 2025

Explore Basket

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Popular ETFs

Published: 24 May 2025

Explore Basket

Buy QQQ or QTOP in Nemo

🆓

Zero Commission

Trade stocks, ETFs, and more with zero commission. Keep more of your returns.

🔒

Trusted & Regulated

Part of Exinity Group 2015, serving over a million customers globally.

💰

6% Interest on Cash

Earn 6% AER on uninvested cash with daily interest payments.

QQQ vs QTOP

Fund Snapshot