HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

HXQ.TO (Horizons NASDAQ-100 Index ETF) and XQQU.TO (iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF) are both Nasdaq-100 funds tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index, from Horizons and iShares respectively. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, HXQ.TO returned 44.49% vs 44.21% for XQQU.TO. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. HXQ.TO charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.39%/yr for XQQU.TO.

Performance

HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Horizons NASDAQ-100 Index ETF (HXQ.TO) and iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with HXQ.TO having a 22.53% return and XQQU.TO slightly lower at 22.27%.

HXQ.TO

• 1D: 0.48%
• 1M: 12.65%
• YTD: 22.53%
• 6M: 18.96%
• 1Y: 44.49%
• 3Y*: 29.97%
• 5Y*: 21.43%
• 10Y*: 22.56%

XQQU.TO

• 1D: 0.47%
• 1M: 12.61%
• YTD: 22.27%
• 6M: 18.74%
• 1Y: 44.21%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
HXQ.TO Horizons NASDAQ-100 Index ETF	22.53%	15.05%	35.98%	7.35%
XQQU.TO iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF	22.27%	15.17%	36.07%	6.90%

Correlation

The correlation between HXQ.TO and XQQU.TO is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.97
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 14, 2023	0.92

The correlation between HXQ.TO and XQQU.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

HXQ.TO

HXQ.TO Risk / Return Rank: 77
HXQ.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 86
HXQ.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
HXQ.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 82
HXQ.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 72
HXQ.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 64

XQQU.TO

XQQU.TO Risk / Return Rank: 77
XQQU.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 85
XQQU.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
XQQU.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 81
XQQU.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 73
XQQU.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 65

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Horizons NASDAQ-100 Index ETF (HXQ.TO) and iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU.TO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	HXQ.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.86	2.85	+0.01
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.72	3.71	+0.02
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.50	1.49	+0.01
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.64	3.71	-0.07
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	11.73	11.88	-0.15
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current HXQ.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.86, which is comparable to the XQQU.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.85. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of HXQ.TO and XQQU.TO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	HXQ.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.86	2.85	+0.01
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.04	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	1.09	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.08	1.60	-0.52

Drawdowns

HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum HXQ.TO drawdown since its inception was -31.60%, which is greater than XQQU.TO's maximum drawdown of -22.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HXQ.TO and XQQU.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	HXQ.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-31.60%	-22.68%	-8.92%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.43%	-12.16%	-0.27%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-22.58%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-31.60%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-31.60%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.75%	-3.38%	-2.37%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.86%	3.79%	+0.07%

Volatility

HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Volatility Comparison

Horizons NASDAQ-100 Index ETF (HXQ.TO) has a higher volatility of 4.66% compared to iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU.TO) at 4.40%. This indicates that HXQ.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XQQU.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	HXQ.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.66%	4.40%	+0.26%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.81%	11.79%	+0.02%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.62%	15.61%	+0.01%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.76%	19.78%	+0.98%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.83%	19.78%	+1.05%

HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

HXQ.TO has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than XQQU.TO's 0.39% expense ratio.

Dividends

HXQ.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Dividend Comparison

HXQ.TO has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XQQU.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.21%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
HXQ.TO Horizons NASDAQ-100 Index ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XQQU.TO iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF	0.21%	0.26%	0.20%	0.10%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both HXQ.TO and XQQU.TO in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.97, HXQ.TO and XQQU.TO move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which ETF is better, HXQ.TO or XQQU.TO?

On fees, HXQ.TO is cheaper at 0.25% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, HXQ.TO or XQQU.TO?

HXQ.TO is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.39% for XQQU.TO.

What is the main difference between HXQ.TO and XQQU.TO?

Both ETFs track NASDAQ-100 Index. They also come from different issuers: Horizons and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for HXQ.TO and 0.39% for XQQU.TO.