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ETF Comparison

DGRW vs QQQ: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund and Invesco QQQ Trust covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Updated September 30, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • DGRWInvestors who want higher current income (2.10% vs 0.41% for QQQ).
  • QQQInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

DGRW has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 11.07% total return against 24.14%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 21.00% a year, against 13.94% for DGRW. DGRW has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 12.6% against 20.4% for QQQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince May 2013Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
DGRW9.32%11.07%17.13%12.12%13.94%12.93%12.6%0.901.32-16.2%
QQQ21.07%24.14%27.75%16.22%21.00%19.86%20.4%0.991.43-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 30, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since May 2013” measures every fund from May 22, 2013 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricDGRWQQQ
Full nameWisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth FundInvesco QQQ Trust
IssuerWisdomTreeInvesco
Underlying indexBasket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks)Nasdaq-100 Index
Last Close$97.24 as of September 30, 2026$739.77 as of September 30, 2026
Distribution rate2.10%0.41%
Trailing 12-month yield1.22%0.42%
Distribution Safety Score™ 8597
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.78%0.40%
Expense ratio0.28%0.18%
AUM$17.1B$501B
Distribution frequencyMonthlyQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Index, a fundamentally weighted index of dividend-paying U.S. common stocks with growth characteristics.Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date05/22/201303/10/1999
Beta0.821.26
Last dividend$0.17$0.75143 declared, pays 10/08/2026
Ex-dividend date09/25/202609/21/2026

Bottom lineChoose DGRW if you want higher current income (2.10% vs 0.41% for QQQ). Choose QQQ if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

WisdomTree
ETFs94
Total AUM$102B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

WisdomTree is known for developing thematic and factor-based ETFs that go beyond traditional market-cap weighting approaches. The issuer maintains a broad lineup spanning dividend and income strategies, international equities, commodities, bonds, digital assets, and specialized thematic areas like megatrends and alternatives. WisdomTree's diverse fund family appeals to investors seeking both traditional income exposure and more specialized strategies, with popular tickers across equity, fixed income, and alternative asset classes.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DGRW.

See all WisdomTree ETFs
Invesco
ETFs246
Total AUM$1013B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Invesco is a major ETF provider known for offering a comprehensive lineup spanning multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company specializes in income-focused products including dividend, covered call, and bond strategies, while also maintaining broad exposure across equity, factor-based, thematic, and ESG investing themes. Invesco's portfolio ranges from index-tracking funds to alternatives and specialized offerings like digital assets and BulletShares, making it one of the more expansive ETF families available to investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QQQ.

See all Invesco ETFs

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Quick verdict

DGRW (WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

DGRW offers the higher yield at 2.10% vs 0.41% for QQQ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

QQQ is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.18% compared to 0.28%.

They have different reference exposures: DGRW is linked to Basket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks) while QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($501B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose DGRW

WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund

  • Want higher current income — DGRW yields 2.10% vs 0.41% for QQQ.
  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.8 vs 1.3 for QQQ.

Choose QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust

  • Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.18% expense ratio vs 0.28% for DGRW.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DGRW would generate roughly $17.50 cash per distribution, while QQQ would produce $10.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.

DGRW yield2.10%
QQQ yield0.41%
Cash diff on $10K$7.25

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, DGRW would cost approximately $280 in fees vs $180 for QQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $100.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

DGRW ER0.28%
QQQ ER0.18%

Strategy & risk

DGRW tracks Basket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks), while QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. Beta is 0.82 for DGRW and 1.26 for QQQ, making DGRW the less volatile of the two by this measure.

DGRW beta0.82
QQQ beta1.26

Fund details

DGRW is managed by WisdomTree (launched 05/22/2013) with $17.1B in assets. QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $501B in assets.

DGRW AUM$17.1B
QQQ AUM$501B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for DGRW and QQQ?

DGRW currently distributes 2.10% and QQQ 0.41%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is DGRW or QQQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. DGRW currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between DGRW and QQQ?

DGRW (WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund) tracks Basket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks), while QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. They are issued by WisdomTree and Invesco respectively.

Can I hold both DGRW and QQQ?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is DGRW or QQQ safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — QQQ scores 97, DGRW scores 85, so QQQ's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. DGRW has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.82 vs 1.26 for QQQ). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, DGRW or QQQ?

DGRW has an expense ratio of 0.28% while QQQ charges 0.18%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in DGRW vs QQQ generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in DGRW would generate roughly $17.50 cash per distribution ($210.00 annually). The same in QQQ would produce about $10.25 cash per distribution ($41.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, DGRW or QQQ?

DGRW has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 11.07% total return against 24.14%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 21.00% a year, against 13.94% for DGRW. DGRW has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 12.6% against 20.4% for QQQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

DGRW vs QQQ — at a glance

Generated September 26, 2026.

Overview

DGRW and QQQ are both large-cap growth ETFs, but they pursue fundamentally different strategies. DGRW focuses on dividend-paying U.S. stocks weighted by fundamentals and screened for quality and growth characteristics, while QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index of the largest non-financial Nasdaq-listed companies with no dividend requirement. The key distinction is that DGRW prioritizes dividend income alongside growth, whereas QQQ is a growth-focused tracker that treats dividends as incidental. This reflects their underlying philosophies—DGRW selects for dividend payers, so income is structural to the fund; QQQ's holdings are chosen purely by Nasdaq market cap, so dividends come only from companies that happen to pay them.

Second, DGRW has a 0.82 beta versus QQQ's 1.26, meaning DGRW tends to move less than the broad market in both directions. QQQ's higher beta reflects the concentrated, high-growth nature of the Nasdaq-100, which includes outsized positions in technology and growth-oriented companies.

Third, QQQ is vastly larger, with $501B in assets versus DGRW's $17.1B, and charges a lower 0.18% expense ratio compared to DGRW's 0.28%. QQQ's scale and age—it was founded 03/10/1999 versus 05/22/2013 for DGRW—have made it a flagship product.

Who each is best for

  • DGRW: Fits investors seeking equity growth with meaningful current income, who want to reduce portfolio volatility through both lower beta exposure and the ballast of dividend-paying stocks, and who prefer monthly income frequency.
  • QQQ: Fits investors with a longer time horizon who prioritize exposure to large-cap technology and growth stocks over income, accept higher volatility, and want the broadest, cheapest entry point to the Nasdaq-100.

Key risks to know

  • Growth vs. income tradeoff. DGRW's dividend focus may exclude high-growth companies that don't yet pay dividends; QQQ's concentration in Nasdaq-listed growth firms (especially technology) means it underweights or excludes dividend-heavy sectors like utilities and REITs.
  • Valuation and rate sensitivity. Both funds hold growth stocks vulnerable to rising interest rates, but QQQ's higher beta and tech tilt amplifies this risk; DGRW's dividend screen may offer some cushion if growth multiples compress.
  • Dividend sustainability in downturns. DGRW's dividend payers may cut payouts during recessions, eroding the income cushion that attracted investors in the first place.
  • Concentration overlap. Both funds likely hold many of the same mega-cap tech stocks (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, etc.), so their exposures are not independent despite their different mandates.

Bottom line

If you want growth with meaningful tax-deductible income and lower volatility, DGRW offers a different set of holdings and a lower beta profile. If you're seeking maximum exposure to the largest growth stocks regardless of dividends, QQQ's lower fees, larger asset base, and higher growth beta fit that priority. Past performance doesn't predict future results, and the choice hinges on whether income or pure growth exposure matters more to your investment plan.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.