UTI vs. QQQM

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

UTI (Universal Technical Institute, Inc.) is a stock, while QQQM (Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF) is Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. Over the past 5 years, UTI returned 45.86%/yr vs 16.11%/yr for QQQM. At a 0.28 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

UTI vs. QQQM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (UTI) and Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, UTI achieves a 52.12% return, which is significantly higher than QQQM's 16.48% return.

UTI

• 1D: -0.67%
• 1M: -0.77%
• YTD: 52.12%
• 6M: 46.68%
• 1Y: 14.36%
• 3Y*: 80.58%
• 5Y*: 45.86%
• 10Y*: 32.03%

QQQM

• 1D: -3.30%
• 1M: -0.42%
• YTD: 16.48%
• 6M: 15.00%
• 1Y: 34.99%
• 3Y*: 26.15%
• 5Y*: 16.11%
• 10Y*: —

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

UTI vs. QQQM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
UTI Universal Technical Institute, Inc.	52.12%	1.63%	105.35%	86.31%	-14.07%	21.05%	21.20%
QQQM Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF	16.48%	20.85%	25.68%	55.01%	-32.52%	27.45%	6.64%

Correlation

The correlation between UTI and QQQM is 0.18, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.18
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.25
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.29
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 13, 2020	0.28

The correlation between UTI and QQQM shifts across timeframes, from 0.18 (1 year) to 0.29 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

UTI vs. QQQM — Risk / Return Rank

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

UTI

UTI Risk / Return Rank: 51
UTI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 52
UTI Sortino Ratio Rank: 48
UTI Omega Ratio Rank: 50
UTI Calmar Ratio Rank: 52
UTI Martin Ratio Rank: 53

QQQM

QQQM Risk / Return Rank: 60
QQQM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 61
QQQM Sortino Ratio Rank: 56
QQQM Omega Ratio Rank: 59
QQQM Calmar Ratio Rank: 61
QQQM Martin Ratio Rank: 62

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.

UTI vs. QQQM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (UTI) and Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM). 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.

	UTI	QQQM	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.26	1.97	-1.72
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.71	2.58	-1.87
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.10	1.35	-0.25
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.39	2.94	-2.55
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.92	10.88	-9.96

UTI vs. QQQM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UTI Sharpe Ratio is 0.26, which is lower than the QQQM Sharpe Ratio of 1.97. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UTI and QQQM, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

UTI vs. QQQM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UTI drawdown since its inception was -96.06%, which is greater than QQQM's maximum drawdown of -35.04%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UTI and QQQM.

Drawdown Indicators

	UTI	QQQM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-96.06%	-35.04%	-61.02%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-36.94%	-11.96%	-24.98%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-39.36%	-22.70%	-16.66%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-51.19%	-35.04%	-16.15%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-61.88%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-11.47%	-4.24%	-7.23%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-65.55%	-8.20%	-57.35%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	16.05%	3.22%	+12.83%

Volatility

UTI vs. QQQM - Volatility Comparison

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (UTI) has a higher volatility of 21.60% compared to Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM) at 9.00%. This indicates that UTI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than QQQM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	UTI	QQQM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	21.60%	9.00%	+12.60%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	40.05%	14.43%	+25.62%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	56.52%	17.85%	+38.67%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	48.34%	22.53%	+25.81%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	53.46%	22.30%	+31.16%

Dividends

UTI vs. QQQM - Dividend Comparison

UTI has not paid dividends to shareholders, while QQQM'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
QQQM Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF	0.44%	0.50%	0.61%	0.65%	0.83%	0.40%	0.16%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
UTI Universal Technical Institute, Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.69%	5.15%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UTI and QQQM in my portfolio?

UTI and QQQM have a correlation of 0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, UTI or QQQM?

UTI has higher volatility (21.60%) compared to QQQM (9.00%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UTI dropped -96.06% vs QQQM's -35.04%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

QQQM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.97 vs 0.26), 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.