QQQ vs WLDN Stock Comparison

Compare QQQ and WLDN 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
QQQ
Equity
vs
WLDN
Industrials
QQQ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Price
$715
Day move
+0.87%
AIQ Score
56/100
Best edge
Quality
Sector
Equity
WLDN
Willdan Group, Inc.
Leads
Price
$82.20
Day move
+0.33%
AIQ Score
58/100
Best edge
Value
Sector
Industrials

What is the main difference between QQQ and WLDN?

WLDN leads the current stock comparison as Willdan Group, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.

AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Willdan Group, Inc.

Data as of Sep 11, 2026· market close· WLDN (stock) vs QQQ (ETF)· Coverage 66/66 fields· 42/42 directly comparable· Moderate confidence
AIQ VerdictFragileAIQ Comparison Conviction 2/10

WLDN leads

WLDN leads by 2 AIQ points, primarily on Value.

Fragile: 1 of 4 evidence groups support WLDN, and its current signal state is conflicted.

Evidence agreement: 1 of 4Comparison trend: Stable
QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1

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

Willdan Group, Inc.

Leads
AIQ Score
58/100
AIQ Edge Score
9/10

The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors WLDN over QQQ, 58 versus 56 as of Sep 11, 2026. WLDN's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value, while QQQ holds the stronger quality profile. WLDN also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 1 of 4 covered evidence groups favor WLDN today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. WLDN lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 2 points over 30 sessions.

Compare Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 and Willdan Group, Inc. 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.

QQQ
+88.3%
WLDN
+114.3%

Total return comparison

Growth of $10,000

QQQ $18,832 · WLDN $21,425

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

Compare QQQ and WLDN 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.

QQQ advantage
0
WLDN advantage
  • Value30 vs 66
    WLDN +36
  • Quality83 vs 64
    QQQ +19
  • Risk Resilience75 vs 57
    QQQ +18
  • Momentum45 vs 43
    Even

1 of 4 evidence groups favor WLDN. WLDN’s edge is concentrated in value; QQQ keeps a meaningful quality edge.

What changed since the last close

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

QQQ-5 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum -17

No new signals fired.

WLDN-1 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum -4

No new signals fired.

The lead changed hands: WLDN moved ahead of QQQ in the latest snapshot.

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

The central trade-off

WLDN (Willdan Group, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value.

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1): the counter-case, on quality, risk resilience, technicals.

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

WLDN

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

Growth

Even

Growth figures are not covered for both names.

Value

WLDN

WLDN on the peer-relative Value factor, by 36 points.

Momentum

Even

The two are level on Momentum.

Lower downside

QQQ

QQQ on Risk Resilience, by 18 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.

MeasureQQQWLDNNote
Implied upside to target+33.8%Level
Target dispersion0%Lower is tighter analyst agreement
ConsensusBuyContext, not a primary driver
Analysts covering1Higher coverage generally improves confidence

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

AIQ Agreement Matrix

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

Evidence groupFavorsReading
AIQ ScoreEven56 vs 58
FundamentalsNot coveredNot covered
ValuationWLDNValue 30 vs 66
TechnicalsQQQPrice vs 50-day 0.6% vs 3.8%; vs 200-day 7.5% vs -11.5%
Risk ResilienceQQQRisk Resilience 75 vs 57
Analyst expectationsNot coveredNot covered

✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of QQQ and WLDN 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 1 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • Signal direction runs against the verdict: the leader is net-bearish while the laggard is net-bullish. (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 WLDN.

How the comparison changed

119 daily snapshots · May 4 Sep 10

WLDN lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 2 points over 30 sessions.

May 4QQQ leads above the line · WLDN leads belowSep 10
Today
WLDN +2
56 vs 58
7 sessions ago
WLDN +5
59 vs 64
30 sessions ago
WLDN +2
64 vs 66
90 sessions ago
WLDN +2
50 vs 52

The lead changed hands 12 times in this window, most recently on Sep 10 when WLDN moved ahead of QQQ.

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.

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%)
WLDNConflicted

1 bullish / 2 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted

  • Death Cross Active bearish, trend, long horizon (16.93%)
  • Bollinger Band Squeeze neutral, volatility, short horizon
  • BB Lower Band Breach bullish, volatility, short horizon

WLDN 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.

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).

WLDNDivergence

Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +0.33%, AIQ -1 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. 1QQQ closes the Value gap — currently 36 points behind, the largest single contributor to WLDN's edge.
  2. 2QQQ's ATR Contraction - Coiling turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
  3. 3WLDN's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once.
  4. 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.

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
MetricQQQWLDN
Revenue growth (YoY)48.9%
EPS growth (YoY)179.3%
Gross margin37.8%
Operating margin7.1%
Return on equity (TTM)20.9%
Debt to equity0.25

Performance

QQQ leads 6 of 6 windows
MetricQQQWLDN
1 week (5 sessions)-0.1%-6.4%
1 month (20 sessions)-2.1%-3.5%
3 months (63 sessions)2.2%-15.3%
6 months (126 sessions)16.6%-2.4%
Year to date15.4%-21%
1 year (252 sessions)22.4%-16.1%

Technicals

QQQ has the stronger structure
MetricQQQWLDN
RSI (14)48.138.6
ADX (14)9.822.7
Price vs 50-day0.6%3.8%
Price vs 200-day7.5%-11.5%
Volatility (1M, annualized)13%30.8%

Risk

QQQ is the more resilient
MetricQQQWLDN
Beta1.421.71
Sharpe ratio0.920.01
Sortino ratio1.380.01
Max drawdown-12.2%-50.4%
Current drawdown-5%-39.3%
Annualized volatility19.7%61.3%
Value at risk (95%)-1.9%-4.7%

Straight answers

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

Which is better, QQQ or WLDN?

On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, WLDN is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 58 against QQQ's 56. The edge comes from value. QQQ is not without a case — it holds the better quality 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 QQQ or WLDN the better buy right now?

WLDN carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 1 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 WLDN over QQQ?

The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. WLDN leads Value by 36 points; QQQ leads Quality by 19 points; QQQ leads Risk Resilience by 18 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.

Which has more analyst upside, QQQ or WLDN?

Analyst price targets imply not covered upside for QQQ and +33.8% for WLDN. 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, QQQ or WLDN?

WLDN is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. WLDN on the peer-relative Value factor, by 36 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, QQQ or WLDN?

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, QQQ or WLDN?

The two are level on Momentum. 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, QQQ or WLDN?

QQQ is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. QQQ on Risk Resilience, by 18 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 QQQ more profitable than WLDN?

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

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

WLDN lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 2 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has changed hands 12 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-10, when WLDN moved ahead of QQQ.

What would change the QQQ vs WLDN verdict?

The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: QQQ closes the Value gap — currently 36 points behind, the largest single contributor to WLDN's edge; QQQ's ATR Contraction - Coiling turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; WLDN's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.

What do the current signals say about QQQ and WLDN?

QQQ: 2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. WLDN: 1 bullish / 2 bearish / 2 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 QQQ is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On WLDN it is Death Cross Active (bearish, 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.