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. BCSM is less concentrated, with 29.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | - | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 56 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +0.04% | +21.44%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +23.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +27.86% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.25% |
| Top 10 Weight | 29.3%Best | 47.2% |
| 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.
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 0.04% versus a gain of 21.44% 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 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
5.3% of BCSM's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings BCSM also owns.
BCSM and QQQ share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BCSM and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 56 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for BCSM (97.0% of the fund), and 46 for BCSM that do not appear in QQQ (83.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
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.
What is the holdings overlap between BCSM and QQQ?
5.3% of BCSM's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.8% of QQQ's is in holdings BCSM also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BCSM and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BCSM or QQQ?
BCSM yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BCSM?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. BCSM is less concentrated, with 29.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.