QQQ vs XLF — 25-Year Performance Comparison
Nasdaq 100 vs Financials — backtested 2000–2024
QQQ wins$66,328 vs $40,283 on $10,000 over 25 years
QQQNasdaq 100
Final value$66,328
CAGR+7.9%
Max drawdown-73.4%
Best year+55% (2023)
Years won14 of 25
XLFFinancials
Final value$40,283
CAGR+5.7%
Max drawdown-63.6%
Best year+36% (2013)
Years won11 of 25
Growth of $10,000
2000–2024QQQXLF
QQQ$66,328
XLF$40,283
50/50 mix$62,019
50/50 blend: $62,019 (+7.6%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between QQQ and XLF would have landed between the two — slightly lower CAGR than QQQ but less volatility. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: QQQ vs XLF
| Year | QQQ | XLF | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +25.6% | +30.9% | XLF |
| 2023 | +54.9% | +12.2% | QQQ |
| 2022 | -32.6% | -10.5% | XLF |
| 2021 | +27.4% | +35.0% | XLF |
| 2020 | +48.6% | -1.7% | QQQ |
| 2019 | +39.0% | +32.1% | QQQ |
| 2018 | -0.1% | -14.6% | QQQ |
| 2017 | +32.7% | +22.2% | QQQ |
| 2016 | +7.1% | +22.8% | XLF |
| 2015 | +9.4% | -1.5% | QQQ |
| 2014 | +19.2% | +15.2% | QQQ |
| 2013 | +36.6% | +35.6% | QQQ |
| 2012 | +18.1% | +29.0% | XLF |
| 2011 | +3.0% | -17.1% | QQQ |
| 2010 | +20.0% | +12.1% | QQQ |
| 2009 | +54.7% | +17.5% | QQQ |
| 2008 | -41.7% | -55.3% | QQQ |
| 2007 | +19.7% | -18.6% | QQQ |
| 2006 | +7.0% | +19.1% | XLF |
| 2005 | +2.2% | +6.1% | XLF |
| 2004 | +10.4% | +10.7% | XLF |
| 2003 | +50.3% | +29.1% | QQQ |
| 2002 | -37.6% | -19.0% | XLF |
| 2001 | -32.6% | -6.3% | XLF |
| 2000 | -36.8% | +26.2% | XLF |
More comparisons
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