Jan 18, 2026 2 min read 0 views

Two Major ETFs Show Divergent Paths in Performance and Strategy

Invesco QQQ Trust and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust exhibit contrasting portfolio structures, with QQQ delivering higher returns amid greater volatility and DIA offering lower fees and higher dividends.

Two Major ETFs Show Divergent Paths in Performance and Strategy

The Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:QQQ) and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSEMKT:DIA) present distinct investment approaches through their portfolio concentration, sector exposure, recent performance, and yield characteristics.

QQQ tracks the NASDAQ-100, holding over 100 growth-oriented companies with a heavy skew toward technology. DIA follows the Dow Jones Industrial Average, comprising a concentrated basket of 30 blue-chip stocks.

As of January 9, 2026, QQQ reported a one-year return of 23.6%, while DIA showed 18.1%. Over five years, an investment of $1,000 in QQQ grew to $1,993, compared to $1,596 in DIA.

DIA maintains a slightly lower expense ratio of 0.16% versus QQQ's 0.18%. DIA currently pays a dividend yield of 1.4%, notably higher than QQQ's 0.4%.

Risk metrics reveal QQQ experienced a maximum drawdown of -35.12% over five years, with DIA showing -20.76%. QQQ's beta measures 1.15, indicating higher volatility relative to the S&P 500, while DIA's beta is 0.88.

DIA's portfolio shows heaviest exposure to financial services at 28%, technology at 20%, and industrials at 15%. Top holdings include Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT), and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT).

QQQ's portfolio is dominated by technology at 55%, communication services at 17%, and consumer cyclical stocks at 13%. Leading positions include Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT).

QQQ manages $412.7 billion in assets under management, while DIA oversees $45.7 billion.

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