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

> Source: BetterThanSPY research, https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-qqq
> Data as of October 22, 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: Across over 10,000 stocks and ETFs screened, outperformance was uncommon among ETFs but more attainable among stocks. Of 957 eligible ETFs, 27, or 2.8%, outperformed QQQ in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods; 5 were all-weather, keeping ahead in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Of 1,502 eligible stocks, 190, or 13%, cleared the consistency bar, and 43 were all-weather.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
  - Popular alternatives: VGT, XLK, and FTEC each outperformed in 4 of 5 short-term periods and 3 of 3 long-term periods. Semiconductor funds SMH and SOXX cleared the consistency bar with 3 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods. AAPL also made the list with 5 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods, while NVDA fell short with 1 of 5 and 3 of 3, respectively. QQQM, which tracks the same Nasdaq-100 index as QQQ, did not outperform in any of the listed periods.
  - Top ETFs: Technology funds led the group, with 7 of the top ETFs in that category. RSPT outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods, while IYW, VGT, and XLK each outperformed in 4 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods.
  - Top stocks: 190 stocks made the consistency cut. The top stocks shown include NTRA and LLY from healthcare, FTNT from technology, and BWLP from industrials. Each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, the top ETFs shown had median volatility of 26.7%, moderately higher than QQQ's 23.0%, while 13 of 15 had a higher Sharpe ratio, a measure of return relative to risk. The top stocks shown were bumpier still, with median volatility of 44.0%, roughly double or more the benchmark's. Even so, 9 of 10 had a higher Sharpe ratio, suggesting most delivered more return per unit of risk over that period.

## 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) |  |  | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0% | 0.69 |
| [VGT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −6.1% | +2.7% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.7% | +135% | +130% | +753% | 26.1% | 0.77 |
| [XLK](https://betterthanspy.com/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −7.1% | +1.3% | +15.6% | +26.8% | +28.4% | +126% | +139% | +741% | 26.1% | 0.80 |
| FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −6.1% | +2.6% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.9% | +136% | +132% | +737% | 26.1% | 0.78 |
| [SMH](https://betterthanspy.com/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −13.8% | −10.8% | +9.8% | +40.2% | +55.0% | +272% | +304% | +1,570% | 37.0% | 0.94 |
| [SOXX](https://betterthanspy.com/research/soxx): iShares Semiconductor ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −17.0% | −14.3% | +10.3% | +51.9% | +68.0% | +219% | +221% | +1,297% | 39.0% | 0.80 |
| [NVDA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/nvda): NVIDIA Corporation | Fell short | 1/5 short, 3/3 long | −7.3% | +0.2% | +5.0% | +12.6% | +18.0% | +395% | +839% | +12,166% | 51.9% | 1.12 |
| [AAPL](https://betterthanspy.com/research/aapl): Apple Inc. | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +2.5% | +6.9% | +27.7% | +28.8% | +35.2% | +104% | +140% | +1,194% | 28.0% | 0.77 |
| ARKK: ARK Innovation ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 1/3 long | −10.6% | +7.7% | +3.2% | +4.5% | −4.1% | +127% | −29.3% | +329% | 46.9% | 0.09 |
| MTUM: iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 1/3 long | −9.2% | −8.0% | +4.9% | +14.6% | +15.8% | +113% | +63.6% | +322% | 22.2% | 0.56 |
| QDEF: Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF | Fell short | 3/5 short, 0/3 long | +1.1% | +3.6% | +9.1% | +13.8% | +16.6% | +80.6% | +81.1% | +228% | 13.7% | 0.94 |
| [VOO](https://betterthanspy.com/research/voo): Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 16.9% | 0.79 |
| [SPY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.6% | +88.4% | +80.3% | +316% | 17.2% | 0.78 |
| [VTI](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | −1.4% | +1.9% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.3% | +71.5% | +298% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [IWM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/iwm): iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.7% | −5.6% | +0.6% | +12.0% | +14.8% | +73.3% | +29.4% | +157% | 22.4% | 0.34 |
| [QQQM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/qqqm): Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −5.7% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +17.0% | +102% | +94.7% | — | 22.9% | 0.70 |
| XLC: State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −5.4% | −1.3% | −8.3% | −7.3% | −6.0% | +66.3% | +40.9% | — | 21.1% | 0.43 |

## 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) |  | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0% | 0.69 |  |  |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.9% | +6.2% | +21.6% | +40.0% | +43.0% | +141% | +116% | +559% | 25.1% | 0.74 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| IYW: iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −6.4% | +2.4% | +16.3% | +24.7% | +26.1% | +138% | +135% | +773% | 26.7% | 0.78 | 0.37% | $24B |
| [VGT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −6.1% | +2.7% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.7% | +135% | +130% | +753% | 26.1% | 0.77 | 0.09% | $178B |
| [XLK](https://betterthanspy.com/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −7.1% | +1.3% | +15.6% | +26.8% | +28.4% | +126% | +139% | +741% | 26.1% | 0.80 | 0.08% | $125B |
| FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −6.1% | +2.6% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.9% | +136% | +132% | +737% | 26.1% | 0.78 | 0.08% | $22B |
| [SMH](https://betterthanspy.com/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −13.8% | −10.8% | +9.8% | +40.2% | +55.0% | +272% | +304% | +1,570% | 37.0% | 0.94 | 0.35% | $66B |
| [SOXX](https://betterthanspy.com/research/soxx): iShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −17.0% | −14.3% | +10.3% | +51.9% | +68.0% | +219% | +221% | +1,297% | 39.0% | 0.80 | 0.33% | $39B |
| FTXL: First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −16.0% | −12.2% | +9.3% | +56.8% | +81.8% | +234% | +220% | +1,019% | 39.0% | 0.79 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| IXN: iShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −8.8% | −0.5% | +14.3% | +28.7% | +31.1% | +140% | +137% | +693% | 26.2% | 0.79 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| XNTK: State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −10.3% | −1.9% | +13.0% | +23.3% | +24.8% | +159% | +115% | +691% | 29.3% | 0.67 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| IGM: iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −7.9% | +0.2% | +11.0% | +21.4% | +23.1% | +149% | +126% | +686% | 26.6% | 0.75 | 0.37% | $11B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | −0.6% | +16.0% | +32.8% | +132% | +125% | +117% | +227% | +401% | 35.1% | 0.85 | 1.08% | $167M |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +19.0% | +34.0% | +36.4% | +144% | +139% | +118% | +205% | +359% | 37.1% | 0.79 | 1.15% | $768M |
| CRAK: VanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +0.5% | +15.8% | +36.4% | +69.7% | +74.3% | +118% | +143% | +325% | 20.9% | 0.96 | 0.61% | $810M |
| BBP: Virtus Biotech ETF | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | −3.6% | +7.0% | +18.9% | +30.2% | +44.0% | +124% | +104% | +245% | 26.8% | 0.67 | 0.34% | $126M |

## 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) |  | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0% | 0.69 |  |
| [NTRA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.7% | +51.9% | +93.2% | +75.4% | +113% | +901% | +249% | +3,934% | 57.6% | 0.73 | $58B |
| [FTNT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ftnt): Fortinet, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.7% | +11.6% | +98.6% | +122% | +104% | +208% | +158% | +2,668% | 44.8% | 0.65 | $127B |
| BWLP: BW LPG Limited | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.2% | +20.7% | +46.1% | +116% | +129% | +232% | +966% | +2,648% | 50.9% | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| [LLY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.7% | +12.5% | +42.3% | +21.5% | +61.9% | +131% | +461% | +1,870% | 32.8% | 1.22 | $1.2T |
| LPG: Dorian LPG Ltd. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.9% | +19.7% | +49.2% | +123% | +107% | +123% | +817% | +1,827% | 43.6% | 1.24 | $2.2B |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.5% | +16.7% | +15.1% | +44.1% | +67.4% | +257% | +468% | +1,564% | 38.0% | 1.11 | $14B |
| [MPC](https://betterthanspy.com/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +17.9% | +45.8% | +108% | +181% | +148% | +226% | +660% | +1,314% | 33.4% | 1.39 | $129B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.5% | +68.6% | +88.5% | +134% | +62.6% | +105% | +289% | +1,306% | 52.4% | 0.79 | $5.9B |
| [PANW](https://betterthanspy.com/research/panw): Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −5.2% | +5.9% | +95.9% | +97.9% | +67.1% | +188% | +322% | +1,306% | 43.4% | 0.89 | $290B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.4% | +17.7% | +33.1% | +40.7% | +40.7% | +249% | +202% | +1,298% | 44.4% | 0.72 | $31B |

## What stands out

Technology stands out among the ETF leaders, with 7 of the top ETFs in that category. Funds focused on technology and semiconductors, including RSPT, VGT, SMH, and SOXX, outperformed across all 3 long-term periods, though not all kept ahead in as many short-term periods. The stock leaders were more varied, spanning healthcare, technology, industrials, energy, and consumer staples. The results point to a broad set of individual winners rather than a single dominant sector.

The risk figures show that these returns came with a bumpier ride. The top ETFs had higher median volatility than QQQ, and the stocks shown had still greater volatility. However, most of both groups had higher Sharpe ratios over 5 years, meaning their returns were stronger relative to their volatility. These comparisons describe past performance, not what will happen next.

## More research

- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SPY (S&P 500)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-spy)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VOO (S&P 500)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-voo)
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## Explore further

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