# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed QQQ (Nasdaq-100)

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-qqq
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform QQQ in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## Key findings

- How hard it was to top QQQ: Among over 10,000 stocks and ETFs screened, only 25 of 957 eligible ETFs (2.6%) and 180 of 1,502 eligible stocks (12%) outperformed QQQ in a majority of both the short-term and long-term timeframes. The stricter all-weather test narrowed that group to 8 ETFs and 44 stocks.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
  - Popular alternatives: VGT, XLK, and FTEC each outperformed in 4 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term timeframes. Semiconductor funds SMH and SOXX also made the list, with 3 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods ahead. NVDA fell short with 2 of 5 short-term periods, while AAPL qualified with 5 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods. QQQM, another Nasdaq-100 fund, did not outperform in any of the listed periods.
  - Top ETFs: Technology funds led, making up 7 of the top ETFs. Standouts include IYW, VGT, XLK, and FTEC, each ahead in 4 of 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
  - Top stocks: 180 stocks met the consistency test. The leading names shown include NTRA and LLY in healthcare, BWLP in industrials, and FTNT in technology. Each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, the top ETFs had median volatility of 26.5%, above QQQ's 23.0%, while the top stocks' median volatility was 44.6%, roughly double or more. Still, 13 of the 15 top ETFs and 9 of the 10 top stocks had higher Sharpe ratios than QQQ, meaning most delivered more return per unit of risk despite the bumpier ride.

## How popular alternatives compare

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| QQQ: Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (benchmark) |  |  | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0% | 0.71 |
| [VGT](https://easycompare.io/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0% | 0.78 |
| [XLK](https://easycompare.io/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0% | 0.82 |
| FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1% | 0.79 |
| [SMH](https://easycompare.io/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9% | 0.97 |
| [SOXX](https://easycompare.io/research/soxx): iShares Semiconductor ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9% | 0.82 |
| [NVDA](https://easycompare.io/research/nvda): NVIDIA Corporation | Fell short | 2/5 short, 3/3 long | −4.8% | +6.6% | +7.4% | +14.9% | +18.8% | +425% | +884% | +13,019% | 51.9% | 1.14 |
| [AAPL](https://easycompare.io/research/aapl): Apple Inc. | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +0.2% | +4.0% | +24.6% | +25.6% | +29.9% | +99.0% | +133% | +1,168% | 28.0% | 0.75 |
| ARKK: ARK Innovation ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 1/3 long | −8.0% | +11.3% | +5.2% | +6.5% | −7.3% | +132% | −28.5% | +340% | 46.8% | 0.09 |
| MTUM: iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 1/3 long | −6.5% | −2.0% | +8.5% | +17.5% | +17.2% | +119% | +68.0% | +336% | 22.1% | 0.58 |
| [VOO](https://easycompare.io/research/voo): Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9% | 0.80 |
| [SPY](https://easycompare.io/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1% | 0.79 |
| QDEF: Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | +0.7% | +4.1% | +8.9% | +13.6% | +15.8% | +79.4% | +81.6% | +228% | 13.7% | 0.94 |
| [VTI](https://easycompare.io/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [IWM](https://easycompare.io/research/iwm): iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4% | 0.34 |
| [QQQM](https://easycompare.io/research/qqqm): Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.2% | +3.3% | +11.2% | +17.5% | +18.0% | +106% | +98.0% | — | 22.9% | 0.71 |
| XLC: State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −4.0% | −0.2% | −6.7% | −4.9% | −4.0% | +71.5% | +41.9% | — | 21.1% | 0.44 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed QQQ

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Expense | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| QQQ: Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (benchmark) |  | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0% | 0.71 |  |  |
| IYW: iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6% | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| [VGT](https://easycompare.io/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0% | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| [XLK](https://easycompare.io/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0% | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1% | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| XNTK: State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −6.7% | +3.7% | +18.9% | +27.2% | +26.2% | +168% | +119% | +728% | 29.3% | 0.68 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| IXN: iShares Global Tech ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −6.2% | +4.4% | +19.3% | +31.2% | +32.0% | +145% | +141% | +720% | 26.2% | 0.81 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| IGM: iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5% | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1% | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| [SMH](https://easycompare.io/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9% | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
| [SOXX](https://easycompare.io/research/soxx): iShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9% | 0.82 | 0.33% | $39B |
| FTXL: First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −9.6% | −1.9% | +18.2% | +64.8% | +85.1% | +249% | +235% | +1,077% | 38.8% | 0.82 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1% | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| CRAK: VanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9% | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| BBP: Virtus Biotech ETF | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +0.6% | +9.8% | +21.3% | +32.8% | +44.2% | +125% | +110% | +249% | 26.8% | 0.69 | 0.34% | $126M |
| COLO: Global X - MSCI Colombia ETF | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | −2.2% | +8.7% | +17.6% | +37.6% | +52.7% | +187% | +117% | +103% | 23.4% | 0.78 | 0.62% | $202M |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed QQQ

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Market cap |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| QQQ: Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (benchmark) |  | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0% | 0.71 |  |
| [NTRA](https://easycompare.io/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6% | 0.74 | $59B |
| BWLP: BW LPG Limited | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.7% | +22.6% | +44.0% | +117% | +136% | +230% | +958% | +2,672% | 50.9% | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| [FTNT](https://easycompare.io/research/ftnt): Fortinet, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.5% | +6.6% | +107% | +119% | +101% | +203% | +156% | +2,626% | 44.8% | 0.65 | $125B |
| [LLY](https://easycompare.io/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8% | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| CORT: Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9% | 0.81 | $13B |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0% | 1.10 | $14B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3% | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| [MPC](https://easycompare.io/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4% | 1.41 | $133B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4% | 0.71 | $30B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4% | 0.79 | $14B |

## What stands out

Technology funds feature prominently among the ETF leaders, and semiconductor funds SMH and SOXX also kept ahead over the long term, though they did not meet the all-weather test. The stock leaders are more varied, spanning healthcare, shipping, technology, consumer staples, and energy. That breadth suggests the results were not limited to one industry, even as technology was the largest ETF category.

The strongest records held across both short- and long-term periods, but the table also shows that some familiar names had uneven results. AAPL cleared the consistency test on strength in the short term, while NVDA and ARKK fell short. The risk figures show that higher returns came with larger price swings, especially among stocks. Most of the top ETFs and stocks still had higher Sharpe ratios than QQQ, though that measure does not remove the uncertainty of future results.

## More research

- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SPY (S&P 500)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-spy)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VOO (S&P 500)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-voo)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VTI (Total US Stock Market)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vti)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed DIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-dia)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed IWM (Russell 2000 Small Caps)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-iwm)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VXUS (International Stocks)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vxus)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed NVDA (Nvidia)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-nvda)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AAPL (Apple)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-aapl)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed MSFT (Microsoft)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-msft)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AMZN (Amazon)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-amzn)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed GOOG (Alphabet)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-goog)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed META (Meta Platforms)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-meta)

## Explore further

- Full page: https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-qqq
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt