USO vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
United States Oil Fund against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Apr 10, 2006 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did USO beat QQQ?
No — measured from Apr 10, 2006 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, QQQ came out ahead: $199,830 versus $2,220 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.9% annual return against -7.2%.
What would $10,000 in USO be worth today?
$10,000 invested in United States Oil Fund (USO) on Apr 10, 2006 would be worth about $2,220 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of -77.8% (-7.2% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $199,830.
Which was riskier — USO or QQQ?
USO swung with an annualized volatility of 37.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -98.2%; QQQ ran at 22.0% volatility with a -53.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is -0.25 for USO vs 0.63 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Apr 10, 2006 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 USO 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.