DFIS vs QQQ
Dimensional International Small Cap ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DFIS or QQQ?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. DFIS is less concentrated, with 3.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | DFIS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $6.0B | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.99% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 3,500 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +13.64% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.38% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.35% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.18% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3%Best | 21.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -27.2%Best | -29.6% |
| $10,000 over 4.4 years | $16,291 | $20,362Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.9%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 23, 2022 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 24, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.4 years).
DFIS 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 covers the 4.4 years both funds cover.
DFIS vs QQQ Performance
Dimensional International Small Cap ETF (DFIS) is an ETF from Dimensional and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year DFIS returned +23.38% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, DFIS is up 13.64% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, DFIS compounded at +20.35% per year against +24.63% for QQQ. Across the full 4-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +17.54% annualized vs +11.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 17.3% for DFIS. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -27.2% for DFIS and -29.6% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFIS charges 0.39% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $18 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFIS currently yields 1.99% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3,415 holdings in DFIS and 102 in QQQ, totalling 95.5% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 3,415 positions we hold weights for in DFIS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 3,500 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for DFIS (97.5% of the fund), and 36 for DFIS that do not appear in QQQ (2.8%).
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 DFIS 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, DFIS or QQQ?
DFIS has an expense ratio of 0.39% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFIS or QQQ?
Over the past year DFIS returned +23.38% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), DFIS annualized +11.73% vs +17.54% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFIS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 17.3% for DFIS. Worst drawdown: DFIS -27.2% vs QQQ -29.6%.
Should I hold both DFIS and QQQ?
DFIS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DFIS or QQQ?
DFIS yields 1.99% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so DFIS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DFIS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. DFIS is less concentrated, with 3.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.