DOCN vs QQQ Stock Comparison

Compare DOCN and QQQ across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.

Market data as of Sep 11, 2026 market close· AIQ score gap 2 points
DOCN
Technology
vs
QQQ
Equity
DOCN
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc.
Price
$123
Day move
-6.18%
AIQ Score
54/100
Best edge
Momentum
Sector
Technology
QQQ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Leads
Price
$715
Day move
+0.87%
AIQ Score
56/100
Best edge
Risk Resilience
Sector
Equity

What is the main difference between DOCN and QQQ?

QQQ leads the current stock comparison as Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1, with the clearest separation coming from risk resilience and the broader AIQ evidence mix.

AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison

DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1

Data as of Sep 11, 2026· market close· DOCN (stock) vs QQQ (ETF)· Coverage 66/66 fields· 42/42 directly comparable· Moderate confidence
AIQ VerdictFragileAIQ Comparison Conviction 3/10

QQQ leads

QQQ leads by 2 AIQ points, primarily on Risk Resilience and Quality, but the lead has narrowed from 18 points over 30 sessions.

Fragile: 2 of 4 evidence groups support QQQ, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.

Evidence agreement: 2 of 4Comparison trend: Weakening
DOCN

DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc.

AIQ Score
54/100
AIQ Edge Score
7/10
QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1

Leads
AIQ Score
56/100
AIQ Edge Score
8/10

The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors QQQ over DOCN, 56 versus 54 as of Sep 11, 2026. QQQ's advantage is driven primarily by stronger risk resilience and quality, while DOCN holds the stronger momentum profile. QQQ also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 2 of 4 covered evidence groups favor QQQ today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. QQQ lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 18 to 2 points over 30 sessions.

Compare DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.

Currently unavailable

Performance over time

Price-return comparison using available daily close history.

DOCN
+73.1%
QQQ
+88.3%

Total return comparison

Growth of $10,000

DOCN $17,314 · QQQ $18,832

Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.

Compare DOCN and QQQ against another ticker

Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.

Basic: 2 symbols·Explorer: 3 symbols·Pro and Premium: 5 symbols·Your limit: 2

AIQ Factor Divergence

Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.

DOCN advantage
0
QQQ advantage
  • Risk Resilience29 vs 75
    QQQ +46
  • Momentum81 vs 45
    DOCN +36
  • Quality72 vs 83
    QQQ +11
  • Value25 vs 30
    QQQ +5

2 of 4 evidence groups favor QQQ. QQQ’s edge is concentrated in risk resilience and quality; DOCN keeps a meaningful momentum edge.

What changed since the last close

Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.

DOCN+1 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum +2

No new signals fired.

QQQ-5 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum -17

No new signals fired.

QQQ's lead narrowed by 6 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.

Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — DOCN and QQQ both carry a full feed there.

The central trade-off

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1): the stronger current systematic profile, led by risk resilience and quality.

DOCN (DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc.): the counter-case, on momentum, technicals — but at materially higher volatility, 79.9% against 13%.

Which one fits your objective

The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.

Balanced

QQQ

QQQ on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.

Growth

Even

Growth figures are not covered for both names.

Value

QQQ

QQQ on the peer-relative Value factor, by 5 points.

Momentum

DOCN

DOCN on the Momentum factor, by 36 points.

Lower downside

QQQ

QQQ on Risk Resilience, by 46 points.

Analyst upside

Even

Analyst targets are level or not covered for both names.

AIQ vs Wall Street

Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.

MeasureDOCNQQQNote
Implied upside to target+31.6%Level
Target dispersion+63.7%Lower is tighter analyst agreement
ConsensusBuyContext, not a primary driver
Analysts covering11Higher coverage generally improves confidence

Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

AIQ Agreement Matrix

2 of 4 covered evidence groups favor QQQ. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.

Evidence groupFavorsReading
AIQ ScoreEven54 vs 56
FundamentalsNot coveredNot covered
ValuationQQQValue 25 vs 30
TechnicalsDOCNPrice vs 50-day -0.5% vs 0.6%; vs 200-day 33.2% vs 7.5%
Risk ResilienceQQQRisk Resilience 29 vs 75
Analyst expectationsNot coveredNot covered

✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of DOCN and QQQ and are excluded from the count.

AIQ Decision Stability

Fragile

The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.

  • The AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • Only 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)

Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on QQQ.

How the comparison changed

119 daily snapshots · May 4 Sep 10

QQQ lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 18 to 2 points over 30 sessions.

May 4DOCN leads above the line · QQQ leads belowSep 10
Today
QQQ +2
54 vs 56
7 sessions ago
QQQ +18
41 vs 59
30 sessions ago
QQQ +18
46 vs 64
90 sessions ago
QQQ +12
38 vs 50

The lead has not changed hands in this window.

AIQ Signal Divergence

Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.

DOCN

3 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral

  • Golden Cross Active bullish, trend, long horizon (25.59%)
  • Uptrend Structure Active bullish, trend, long horizon
  • ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode neutral, volatility, short horizon (6.95%)
QQQConflicted

2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted

  • Golden Cross Active bullish, trend, long horizon (7.75%)
  • EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish bullish, trend, medium horizon
  • ATR Contraction - Coiling neutral, volatility, short horizon (1.27%)

QQQ leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.

Price vs model alignment

Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.

DOCNDivergence

Price is down while the AIQ Score moved up 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price -6.18%, AIQ +1 points).

QQQDivergence

Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 5 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +0.87%, AIQ -5 points).

What would flip this result

A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.

  1. 1DOCN closes the Risk Resilience gap — currently 46 points behind, the largest single contributor to QQQ's edge.
  2. 2DOCN's ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
  3. 3QQQ's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
  4. 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 16 points over 30 sessions, and a further 2-point move would eliminate QQQ's advantage entirely.

The full evidence

Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.

Fundamentals

Split
MetricDOCNQQQ
Revenue growth (YoY)9%
EPS growth (YoY)100%
Gross margin57.2%
Operating margin14.8%
Return on equity (TTM)54.7%
Debt to equity1.61

Performance

DOCN leads 5 of 6 windows
MetricDOCNQQQ
1 week (5 sessions)25%-0.1%
1 month (20 sessions)-1.7%-2.1%
3 months (63 sessions)-23.6%2.2%
6 months (126 sessions)90.8%16.6%
Year to date172.3%15.4%
1 year (252 sessions)293.4%22.4%

Technicals

DOCN has the stronger structure
MetricDOCNQQQ
RSI (14)63.548.1
ADX (14)16.29.8
Price vs 50-day-0.5%0.6%
Price vs 200-day33.2%7.5%
Volatility (1M, annualized)79.9%13%

Risk

QQQ is the more resilient
MetricDOCNQQQ
Beta2.481.42
Sharpe ratio1.940.92
Sortino ratio4.111.38
Max drawdown-42.1%-12.2%
Current drawdown-27.7%-5%
Annualized volatility85%19.7%
Value at risk (95%)-6.8%-1.9%

Straight answers

Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.

Which is better, DOCN or QQQ?

On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, QQQ is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 56 against DOCN's 54. The edge comes from risk resilience and quality. DOCN is not without a case — it holds the better momentum profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.

Is DOCN or QQQ the better buy right now?

QQQ carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. Treat the lead as provisional.

Why does the AIQ Score favor QQQ over DOCN?

The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. QQQ leads Risk Resilience by 46 points; DOCN leads Momentum by 36 points; QQQ leads Quality by 11 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.

Which has more analyst upside, DOCN or QQQ?

Analyst price targets imply +31.6% upside for DOCN and not covered for QQQ. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

Which is better value, DOCN or QQQ?

QQQ is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. QQQ on the peer-relative Value factor, by 5 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.

Which has stronger growth, DOCN or QQQ?

Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.

Which has stronger momentum, DOCN or QQQ?

DOCN on the Momentum factor, by 36 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.

Which is riskier, DOCN or QQQ?

QQQ is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. QQQ on Risk Resilience, by 46 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.

Is DOCN more profitable than QQQ?

Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.

Is QQQ's lead over DOCN getting stronger or weaker?

QQQ lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 18 to 2 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has not changed hands in that window.

What would change the DOCN vs QQQ verdict?

The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: DOCN closes the Risk Resilience gap — currently 46 points behind, the largest single contributor to QQQ's edge; DOCN's ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; QQQ's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 16 points over 30 sessions, and a further 2-point move would eliminate QQQ's advantage entirely.

What do the current signals say about DOCN and QQQ?

DOCN: 3 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral. QQQ: 2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on DOCN is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On QQQ it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).

Continue your research

This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.

How this comparison is scored

The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.

The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.

How to use side-by-side comparison →

This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.