FDN
Not rated
No published distribution safety rating is available.
ETF Comparison
FDN vs QQQ: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund and Invesco QQQ Trust covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Updated November 6, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Best for
- FDNInvestors who want targeted technology exposure and accept its concentration.
- QQQInvestors who want higher current income (0.46% while FDN makes no distribution).
Price and total return
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Distribution Safety Score
An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.
QQQ
Safe
High confidence
Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  FDN |  QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund | Invesco QQQ Trust |
| Issuer | First Trust | Invesco |
| Underlying index | First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index | Nasdaq-100 Index |
| Last Close | $260.58 as of November 6, 2026 | $656.10 as of November 6, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | — | 0.46% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | — | 0.47% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | — | 97 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | — | 0.45% |
| Expense ratio | 0.49% | 0.18% |
| AUM | $4.80B | $446B |
| Distribution frequency | None | Quarterly |
| Objective | — | Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | 06/19/2006 | 03/10/1999 |
| Beta | 1.23 | 1.25 |
| Last dividend | — | $0.75143 |
| Ex-dividend date | 12/21/2011 | 09/21/2026 |
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.
FDN has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a -3.83% total return against 7.77%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 19.98% a year, against 12.77% for FDN. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | 10Y annualized | Since Jun 2006 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDN | -3.19% | -3.83% | 18.13% | 1.00% | 12.77% | 13.31% | 21.9% | 0.58 | 0.80 | -25.0% |
| QQQ | 7.17% | 7.77% | 21.80% | 11.14% | 19.98% | 15.87% | 20.9% | 0.75 | 1.06 | -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 November 6, 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 Jun 2006” measures every fund from June 23, 2006 — 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.
Not a distribution payer
FDN (First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund) has no distribution rate on file and its distribution frequency is None. FDN is not a payer. The blank yield is not a zero yield.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Bottom lineChoose FDN if you want targeted technology exposure and accept its concentration. Choose QQQ if you want higher current income (0.46% while FDN makes no distribution).
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
ETFs329
Total AUM$285B
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
First Trust is known for offering a diverse lineup of actively and passively managed ETFs across multiple investment styles and asset classes. Their fund families span income-focused strategies including dividend and covered call approaches, as well as thematic, factor-based, alternatives, and sector-specific offerings that appeal to different investor objectives. The issuer provides breadth across allocation, bond, buffer, commodities, and municipal fund categories, making them a comprehensive provider serving various portfolio construction and income-generation needs.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on FDN.
ETFs248
Total AUM$944B
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.
Quick verdict
FDN (First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.
QQQ currently shows a 0.46% distribution yield. FDN has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.
QQQ is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.18% compared to 0.49%.
They have different reference exposures: FDN is linked to First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index while QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($446B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Top-holdings overlap
Positions that appear in every fund's top 10. Issuers disclose only the largest weights, so this captures the overlap of the concentrated end of each book — not the full portfolios.
2 shared positions
FDN 20.7% of its top-10 weight
QQQ 7.4% of its top-10 weight
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, FDN has no reported distribution yield yet, so a cash estimate is not available, while QQQ would pay about $46.00 a year (about $11.50 per quarterly distribution).
FDN yield—
QQQ yield0.46%
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, FDN would cost approximately $490 in fees vs $180 for QQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $310.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
FDN ER0.49%
QQQ ER0.18%
Strategy & risk
FDN tracks First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index with a technology approach, while QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.23 for FDN and 1.25 for QQQ — effectively similar market sensitivity.
FDN beta1.23
QQQ beta1.25
Fund details
FDN is managed by First Trust (launched 06/19/2006) with $4.80B in assets. QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $446B in assets.
FDN AUM$4.80B
QQQ AUM$446B
Frequently asked questions
Which of FDN or QQQ pays more dividend income?
QQQ currently reports a distribution yield, while FDN has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.
What is the difference between FDN and QQQ?
FDN (First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund) tracks First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index with a technology approach, while QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. They are issued by First Trust and Invesco respectively.
Can I hold both FDN and QQQ?
Yes. Their disclosed top-10 holdings share only 2 positions, so combining both adds mostly distinct underlying names — see the holdings-overlap section above. Overlap outside the disclosed top 10 can still exist.
Which has lower fees, FDN or QQQ?
FDN has an expense ratio of 0.49% 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 FDN vs QQQ generate?
At current distribution rates, FDN does not pay distributions, so there is no cash income to estimate. $10,000 in QQQ would pay about $46.00 a year (about $11.50 per quarterly distribution).
Which has performed better historically, FDN or QQQ?
FDN has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a -3.83% total return against 7.77%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 19.98% a year, against 12.77% for FDN. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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Dividend dates and history
FDN vs QQQ — at a glance
Generated November 7, 2026.
Overview
FDN and QQQ are both broad technology and growth-focused index ETFs, but they track different indexes with meaningfully different compositions. The key distinction: FDN is a specialized internet/tech play, whereas QQQ is a larger, more diversified large-cap growth benchmark.
How they differ
FDN is concentrated in pure-play internet and technology companies, while QQQ's Nasdaq-100 composition spreads across technology but also includes significant exposure to healthcare, consumer discretionary, and other sectors.
Who each is best for
FDN: Fits investors seeking concentrated exposure to internet and digital-economy businesses, who tolerate higher sector concentration and want growth-focused capital appreciation without regular distributions.
Key risks to know
- Sector and business-model concentration: FDN's narrower internet-focused mandate means performance is more tightly tied to tech valuations and digital-economy sentiment; a sector rotation away from technology disproportionately affects FDN relative to QQQ's broader large-cap growth mix.
- Higher volatility and beta drift: Both funds carry elevated beta relative to the broader market, but FDN's slight beta premium and narrower composition may amplify drawdowns during growth-stock sell-offs or rising-rate environments where tech multiples compress.
- Valuation risk: These funds hold mature, often profitable large-cap names trading at market prices; extended valuations leave both vulnerable to disappointment if earnings growth slows or rates rise faster than consensus expects.
- Overlap in top holdings: FDN and QQQ likely share significant overlap in mega-cap tech stocks (though holdings data is not provided), so holding both may concentrate exposure rather than diversify it—worth verifying before combining them in a single portfolio.
Bottom line
QQQ's lower cost, larger size, and quarterly income suit investors wanting broad large-cap growth exposure with minimal friction. FDN appeals to investors with a specific conviction in internet and digital-economy leadership and a tolerance for higher concentration. If you value breadth and cost efficiency, QQQ stands out; if you want a focused internet-sector bet, FDN's narrower mandate may fit your thesis—but verify the overlap before holding both.
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.
These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.