SOXX vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
iShares Semiconductor ETF against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jul 13, 2001 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SOXX beat QQQ?
Yes — measured from Jul 13, 2001 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SOXX came out ahead: $278,399 versus $197,291 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.2% annual return against 12.7%.
What would $10,000 in SOXX be worth today?
$10,000 invested in iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) on Jul 13, 2001 would be worth about $278,399 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 2684.0% (14.2% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $197,291.
Which was riskier — SOXX or QQQ?
SOXX swung with an annualized volatility of 33.5% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -70.2%; QQQ ran at 23.4% volatility with a -54.3% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.37 for SOXX vs 0.46 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jul 13, 2001 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with SOXX vs QQQ. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.