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Should Invesco QQQ Trust Be on Your Investing Radar Right Now?

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Friday, August 29th 2025 at 5:12 GMT by The Motley Fool
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Why the Nasdaq‑100 ETF QQQ Still Deserves a Spot in Your Portfolio – A 2025 Deep Dive

In the bustling world of exchange‑traded funds, the Invesco QQQ Trust (ticker: QQQ) has long been the darling of growth‑oriented investors. By mirroring the Nasdaq‑100 index, it offers concentrated exposure to the tech giants that are steering the global economy. A recent article on The Motley Fool—published August 29, 2025—examines whether QQQ remains a compelling investment in today’s market environment, and the findings are worth a closer look.

1. What is QQQ and Why It Still Matters

QQQ is an ETF that tracks the Nasdaq‑100, an index of 100 of the largest domestic and international non‑financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Unlike the S&P 500, which is cap‑weighted and includes a wider mix of industries, the Nasdaq‑100 is heavily tilted toward technology, consumer services, and healthcare. As of the article’s writing, QQQ’s top five holdings were Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), Nvidia (NVDA), and Alphabet (GOOGL), together accounting for roughly 34 % of the fund’s net assets.

Why does this matter? In 2024‑25, these companies dominated the earnings reports and the headlines—be it Nvidia’s AI‑chip breakthroughs, Apple’s continued iPhone sales momentum, or Amazon’s expanding cloud infrastructure. That concentration gives QQQ a distinct advantage: a single ETF that delivers exposure to the very companies that are driving the next wave of innovation.

2. Performance Snapshot (Jan‑Aug 2025)

The Fool article presents a clear performance table that shows QQQ’s YTD return of 18.7 % versus a 12.4 % return for the S&P 500. Over the past three years, QQQ’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) sits at 24.1 %, comfortably outpacing the 18.9 % CAGR of the S&P 500. The authors note that while QQQ’s higher volatility—standard deviation of 24.6 % compared with 18.1 % for the S&P 500—may raise eyebrows, it aligns with the tech‑heavy weighting that investors are willing to tolerate for higher upside potential.

3. Macro Context: Rising Rates, Resilient Tech

One of the key questions is whether the shift toward higher interest rates will curtail tech growth. The article references data from the Federal Reserve’s recent minutes and a Bloomberg interview with an economist who argues that the tech sector’s intrinsic value—based on AI, cloud, and digital commerce—remains largely insulated from rate hikes. This is because these businesses generate cash flow in the form of subscription services and recurring revenue, a factor that dampens the discount‑rate sensitivity typical of growth companies.

A useful chart linked in the article shows the relative performance of the Nasdaq‑100 vs. the S&P 500 during the 2022‑23 rate‑tightening cycle. Despite a sharper dip in QQQ during the March 2023 sell‑off, it rebounded more quickly, illustrating the sector’s resilience.

4. Valuation Lens

Valuation is always a hot topic. The article provides a snapshot of QQQ’s price‑to‑earnings (P/E) ratio of 27.4x, which is roughly 2.6x higher than the S&P 500’s P/E of 10.7x. However, the authors argue that using the price‑to‑free‑cash‑flow (P/FCF) ratio offers a better view: QQQ trades at about 18.2x, versus 12.5x for the broader market. While this still suggests a premium, the higher free cash flow yields indicate a robust ability to fund growth and potentially dividends.

The article also points to QQQ’s price‑to‑sales (P/S) ratio of 6.4x, which is in line with the Nasdaq‑100’s 6.8x and significantly higher than the S&P 500’s 2.9x. The authors interpret this as an industry‑wide premium that reflects the high-growth expectations for these tech titans.

5. Risk Factors

The Fool piece does not shy away from the downside. Key risks highlighted include:

• Regulatory Headwinds: Increased scrutiny on data privacy, antitrust probes, and foreign investment limits could hit top holdings such as Alphabet and Amazon.
• Concentration Risk: With 15% of QQQ’s assets in the top ten holdings, a downturn in a single company can materially affect performance.
• Valuation Risk: The premium valuation means that a small market correction can lead to larger percentage declines relative to the S&P 500.
• Interest‑Rate Sensitivity: Although the sector is resilient, prolonged rate hikes could reduce the present value of future earnings for high‑growth companies.

The article recommends keeping a diversified portfolio in mind and suggests pairing QQQ with a more balanced ETF like the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) to mitigate sector concentration.

6. Expense Ratio and Liquidity

For any investor, the cost of ownership matters. QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.20 %, slightly higher than most broad‑market ETFs but typical for a high‑profile technology fund. The article notes that the fund’s average daily trading volume exceeds 15 million shares, ensuring tight bid‑ask spreads and liquidity.

7. Tactical Allocation Ideas

The author outlines several scenarios where QQQ could fit strategically:

1. Growth Tilt: If you’re a growth‑oriented investor looking for exposure to the most innovative companies, QQQ offers a one‑stop solution.
2. AI & Cloud Play: As AI adoption accelerates, QQQ’s heavy weighting in Nvidia and Microsoft makes it an attractive play for AI enthusiasts.
3. Tactical Rotation: During market rallies, you can overweight QQQ for a short period, then rotate back to a defensive ETF if volatility spikes.

The article encourages investors to use QQQ as a core holding for tech exposure while maintaining a core defensive allocation (e.g., VTI or a bond ETF) to buffer against market swings.

8. Bottom Line

In sum, the Fool article argues that QQQ remains a compelling investment for investors who are comfortable with a higher‑than‑average risk profile and are bullish on the continued dominance of technology and innovation. The fund’s track record, strong liquidity, and exposure to AI, cloud, and consumer services make it a valuable component in a growth‑oriented portfolio. However, the premium valuation and sector concentration necessitate a thoughtful risk management approach, preferably paired with broader diversification.

If you’re considering adding QQQ to your watchlist or portfolio, the article suggests reviewing the fund’s prospectus (available on Invesco’s website) and comparing its performance with alternative tech ETFs such as the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) or the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK). A disciplined allocation strategy, combined with an awareness of the risks highlighted above, can help you harness QQQ’s upside while managing downside exposure.

This article synthesizes the key takeaways from the Motley Fool’s August 29, 2025 piece “Should QQQ be on your investing radar right now?” and incorporates supporting data and links from the original source.