QQQ vs SOXX: Nasdaq-100 or Semiconductor Exposure?
Compare exposure across Nasdaq-100 industries with a focused semiconductor allocation. Start with concentration and overlapping holdings, then compare costs.
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.
QQQ has lagged SOXX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.84% total return against 113.79%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SOXX has compounded at 33.00% a year, against 21.10% for QQQ. QQQ has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 20.4% against 39.8% for SOXX. 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.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 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 Jul 2001” measures every fund from July 13, 2001 — 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.
Bottom lineChoose QQQ if you want Nasdaq-100 exposure across multiple industries, with large-company concentration. Choose SOXX if you want targeted semiconductor exposure and accept industry concentration.
Multiple industries versus a semiconductor allocation
QQQ holds large non-financial Nasdaq-listed companies across several industries. SOXX focuses on semiconductors. Both can be concentrated in large companies; holding both can increase exposure to the same chipmakers.
QQQ
SOXX
Exposure
Nasdaq-100, spanning multiple industries
Semiconductor companies
Concentration to check
Largest companies and technology-related holdings
One industry and its largest positions
Key risk
Equity-market and large-company concentration
Chip demand, industry cycles, and company concentration
Expense ratio
0.18%
0.33%
Holding both
Review current holdings and combined weights
Adds semiconductor exposure, including potential overlap
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.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SOXX.
QQQ spans multiple Nasdaq-100 industries; SOXX focuses on semiconductors. The main decision is the exposure you want, not the small difference in distributions.
Both carry equity risk and can have large-company concentration. Adding SOXX to QQQ can increase exposure to chipmakers already held. Review current holdings, combined weights, expenses, and trading costs; fund size alone does not establish liquidity.
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On a $10,000 investment, QQQ would generate roughly $10.00 cash per distribution, while SOXX would produce $5.50 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
QQQ yield0.40%
SOXX yield0.22%
Cash diff on $10K$4.50
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQ would cost approximately $180 in fees vs $330 for SOXX (simplified, not compounded). The $150.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
QQQ ER0.18%
SOXX ER0.33%
Strategy & risk
QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach, while SOXX tracks ICE Semiconductor Index. Beta is 1.26 for QQQ and 2.33 for SOXX, making QQQ the less volatile of the two by this measure.
QQQ beta1.26
SOXX beta2.33
Fund details
QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $501B in assets. SOXX is managed by iShares (launched 07/10/2001) with $48.9B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Does holding QQQ and SOXX diversify my portfolio?
QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 across multiple industries. SOXX focuses on semiconductor companies. Some chipmakers can appear in both, so adding SOXX may increase semiconductor concentration rather than diversify it. Compare current holdings and combined weights. Neither fund represents the entire stock market, and past returns do not establish which will perform better next.
What is the current distribution rate for QQQ and SOXX?
QQQ currently distributes 0.40% and SOXX 0.22%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is QQQ or SOXX better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. QQQ 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.
Can I hold both QQQ and SOXX?
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 QQQ or SOXX 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, SOXX scores 66, so QQQ's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. QQQ has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.26 vs 2.33 for SOXX). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
Which has lower fees, QQQ or SOXX?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SOXX charges 0.33%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in QQQ vs SOXX generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in QQQ would generate roughly $10.00 cash per distribution ($40.00 annually). The same in SOXX would produce about $5.50 cash per distribution ($22.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, QQQ or SOXX?
QQQ has lagged SOXX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.84% total return against 113.79%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SOXX has compounded at 33.00% a year, against 21.10% for QQQ. QQQ has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 20.4% against 39.8% for SOXX. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
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