SGOL vs. QQQ
SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SGOL is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while QQQ is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SGOL returned 11.62%/yr vs 20.50%/yr for QQQ. Their 0.06 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. SGOL charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for QQQ.
Performance
SGOL vs. QQQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SGOL achieves a -6.06% return, which is significantly lower than QQQ's 11.64% return. Over the past 10 years, SGOL has underperformed QQQ with an annualized return of 11.62%, while QQQ has yielded a comparatively higher 20.50% annualized return.
SGOL
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- 0.65%
- 6M
- -18.71%
- YTD
- -6.06%
- 1Y
- 21.20%
- 3Y*
- 27.11%
- 5Y*
- 17.42%
- 10Y*
- 11.62%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.34%
QQQ
- 1D
- -1.12%
- 1M
- -4.49%
- 6M
- 10.14%
- YTD
- 11.64%
- 1Y
- 21.39%
- 3Y*
- 22.49%
- 5Y*
- 13.87%
- 10Y*
- 20.50%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.62%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25.72B | $27.46B | $30.43B | |
| $79.87M | $79.24M | $102.39M |
SGOL vs. QQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | -6.06% | 63.99% | 26.90% | 12.99% | -0.51% | -3.94% | 25.03% | 18.21% | -1.94% | 12.86% |
QQQ Invesco QQQ ETF | 11.64% | 20.77% | 25.58% | 54.86% | -32.58% | 27.42% | 48.62% | 38.96% | -0.13% | 32.66% |
Correlation
The correlation between SGOL and QQQ is 0.29, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.29 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.11 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 9, 2009 | 0.06 |
Over the past year, SGOL and QQQ have become more correlated (0.29) than their long-term average of 0.06, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
SGOL vs. QQQ — Risk / Return Rank
SGOL
QQQ
SGOL vs. QQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| SGOL | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.42 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.55 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 1.21 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.77 | 1.82 | -1.05 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.73 | 6.19 | -4.46 |
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Drawdowns
SGOL vs. QQQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SGOL drawdown since its inception was -45.51%, smaller than the maximum QQQ drawdown of -82.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGOL and QQQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SGOL | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.51% | -82.97% | +37.46% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.32% | -11.96% | -14.36% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.32% | -22.77% | -3.55% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.32% | -35.12% | +8.80% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.32% | -35.12% | +8.80% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -24.94% | -8.20% | -16.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.45% | -32.64% | +14.19% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.64% | 3.51% | +8.13% |
Volatility
SGOL vs. QQQ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) is 6.07%, while Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ) has a volatility of 6.74%. This indicates that SGOL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than QQQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SGOL | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.07% | 6.74% | -0.67% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.69% | 15.61% | +8.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.79% | 18.96% | +8.83% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.34% | 22.83% | -4.49% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.08% | 22.46% | -6.38% |
SGOL vs. QQQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
SGOL has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than QQQ's 0.18% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SGOL vs. QQQ - Dividend Comparison
SGOL has not paid dividends to shareholders, while QQQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.44%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QQQ Invesco QQQ ETF | 0.44% | 0.45% | 0.56% | 0.62% | 0.80% | 0.43% | 0.55% | 0.74% | 0.91% | 0.84% | 1.06% | 0.99% |
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SGOL and QQQ have a correlation of 0.29, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
QQQ has higher volatility (6.74%) compared to SGOL (6.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SGOL dropped -45.51% vs QQQ's -82.97%.
On 10-year performance, QQQ leads with 20.50% vs 11.62% for SGOL. On fees, SGOL is cheaper at 0.17% per year. On volatility, SGOL has been the lower-risk option at 6.07%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, QQQ has performed better with a 20.50% return vs 11.62%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SGOL is cheaper with a 0.17% expense ratio, compared with 0.18% for QQQ.
QQQ has the higher dividend yield at 0.44%, compared with 0.00% for SGOL.
SGOL is categorized as Gold, while QQQ is Nasdaq-100. SGOL tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while QQQ tracks NASDAQ-100 Index. They also come from different issuers: abrdn and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for SGOL and 0.18% for QQQ.
QQQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.15 vs 0.73), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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