EMES vs QQQ
Harbor Emerging Markets Select ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, EMES or QQQ?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. EMES led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.9%.
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 | EMES | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $12M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.46% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 60 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +25.72%Best | +17.54% |
| 1Y Return | +40.51%Best | +25.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.18% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 19.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.0% | -12.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $14,495Best | $13,907 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.9% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 14, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 15, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.3 years).
EMES 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
EMES vs QQQ Performance
Harbor Emerging Markets Select ETF (EMES) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year EMES returned +40.51% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, EMES is up 25.72% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMES has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 19.4% for QQQ. 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 -13.0% for EMES and -12.0% 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMES charges 0.65% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $18 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMES currently yields 0.46% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
1.7% of EMES's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings EMES also owns.
EMES and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in EMES and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 60 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for EMES (97.1% of the fund), and 3 for EMES that do not appear in QQQ (5.3%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EMES | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELIMercadolibre Inc | 1.67% | 0.43% | 1.24% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EMES 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, EMES or QQQ?
EMES has an expense ratio of 0.65% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMES or QQQ?
Over the past year EMES returned +40.51% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so EMES leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EMES annualized +33.05% vs +28.88% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMES or QQQ?
EMES has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 19.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: EMES -13.0% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both EMES and QQQ?
EMES and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between EMES and QQQ?
1.7% of EMES's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.4% of QQQ's is in holdings EMES also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in EMES and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, EMES or QQQ?
EMES yields 0.46% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so EMES currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than EMES?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. EMES led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.