Data as of Sep 13, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
QCAP vs QQQ: how they differ
Over the year QQQ returned more, +23.0% against +8.6%, and QQQ charges 0.18% against 0.90%.
FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Conservative Buffer ETF - April and Invesco QQQ Trust.
| QCAP FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Conservative Buffer ETF - April | QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Buffer ETF | Core index fund |
| Issuer | First Trust | Invesco |
| What it is | Defined outcome, 20% on QQQ | Nasdaq-100 |
| Total return, 1 year | +8.6% | +23.0% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +23.0% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | −14.4 pts | +5.5 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.90% | 0.18% |
| Holdings | not filed | 105 |
QCAP in plain words
From its price on Sep 13, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 5.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 9.2% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 20.0% of the 20.0% buffer still sits below today's QQQ level. 217 days remained on Sep 13, 2026. On Apr 16, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.
QQQ in plain words
QQQ is an index equity fund tracking the Nasdaq-100. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +23.0% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.18% a year. By its holdings filed for Sep 10, 2026, 97% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 105 positions, with the top ten at 47.0%. It sat 4.1% below its high of Jun 2, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, QCAP or QQQ?
- In the year to Sep 13, 2026, with distributions reinvested, QCAP returned +8.6% and QQQ returned +23.0%, so QQQ returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, QCAP or QQQ?
- QCAP charges 0.90% a year and QQQ charges 0.18%, so QQQ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- Are QCAP and QQQ the same kind of fund?
- No. QCAP is a buffer ETF and QQQ is an index ETF, so they are built for different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and what each actually holds.
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Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, QCAP against QQQ, data as of Sep 13, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/qcap-vs-qqq Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources