EQLT vs QQQ
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, EQLT or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. EQLT led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EQLT is less concentrated, with 34.8% 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 | EQLT | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $13M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.36% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 323 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +27.80%Best | +17.54% |
| 1Y Return | +46.97%Best | +25.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.83% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.83% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 18.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.8% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,067 | $19,407Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.8%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 4, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 25, 2014 to Sep 4, 2026 (12.5 years).
EQLT 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.
EQLT vs QQQ Performance
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF (EQLT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year EQLT returned +46.97% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, EQLT is up 27.80% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, EQLT compounded at +3.83% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.83% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.32% annualized vs +3.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EQLT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 18.2% 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 -45.8% for EQLT and -35.1% 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EQLT charges 0.35% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $18 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EQLT currently yields 2.36% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
0.9% of EQLT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings EQLT also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 299 positions we hold weights for in EQLT and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 323 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for EQLT (97.5% of the fund), and 8 for EQLT that do not appear in QQQ (1.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EQLT | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc | 0.90% | 0.27% | 0.63% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EQLT 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, EQLT or QQQ?
EQLT has an expense ratio of 0.35% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EQLT or QQQ?
Over the past year EQLT returned +46.97% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so EQLT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), EQLT annualized +3.81% vs +18.32% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EQLT or QQQ?
EQLT has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 18.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: EQLT -45.8% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both EQLT and QQQ?
EQLT and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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, EQLT or QQQ?
EQLT yields 2.36% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so EQLT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than EQLT?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. EQLT led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EQLT is less concentrated, with 34.8% 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.