BCSM vs QQQ
Baron SMID Cap ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BCSM or QQQ?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BCSM | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | - | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 58 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +1.68% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +25.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.18% |
| Fund Family | Baron Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 12, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
BCSM vs QQQ growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BCSM vs QQQ Performance
Baron SMID Cap ETF (BCSM) is an ETF from Baron Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Year to date, BCSM is up 1.68% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BCSM charges 0.75% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $18 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BCSM currently yields 0.00% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings BCSM also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BCSM, our book for it covers 93.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in BCSM and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 58 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BCSM and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BCSM or QQQ?
BCSM has an expense ratio of 0.75% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, BCSM or QQQ?
BCSM yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BCSM?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.