EWC vs QQQ
iShares MSCI Canada ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, EWC or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. EWC led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWC is less concentrated, with 43.5% 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 | EWC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $6.9B | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.26% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 89 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +14.01% | +17.44%Best |
| 1Y Return | +26.43%Best | +24.69% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.76% | +24.76%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.69% | +14.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -62.7%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,173 | $19,441Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.5%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 12, 1996 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 8, 2026 (27.5 years).
EWC 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 27.5 years both funds cover.
EWC vs QQQ Performance
iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC) 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 EWC returned +26.43% while QQQ returned +24.69%. Year to date, EWC is up 14.01% versus a gain of 17.44% for QQQ.
Over three years, EWC compounded at +23.76% per year against +24.76% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +12.69% and +14.22% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs +6.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 20.0% for EWC. 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 -62.7% for EWC and -83.0% 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWC charges 0.50% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $18 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EWC currently yields 1.26% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
5.3% of EWC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings EWC also owns.
EWC and QQQ share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 83 positions we hold weights for in EWC and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 89 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for EWC (96.8% of the fund), and 1 for EWC that do not appear in QQQ (0.1%).
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 EWC 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, EWC or QQQ?
EWC has an expense ratio of 0.50% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWC or QQQ?
Over the past year EWC returned +26.43% vs +24.69% for QQQ, so EWC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), EWC annualized +6.49% vs +13.04% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWC or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 20.0% for EWC. Worst drawdown: EWC -62.7% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both EWC and QQQ?
EWC 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.
What is the holdings overlap between EWC and QQQ?
5.3% of EWC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.9% of QQQ's is in holdings EWC also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 83 positions we hold weights for in EWC and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, EWC or QQQ?
EWC yields 1.26% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so EWC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than EWC?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. EWC led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWC is less concentrated, with 43.5% 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.