EWI vs QQQ
iShares MSCI Italy ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, EWI or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. EWI led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.7%.
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 | EWI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.04% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 32 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +13.56% | +17.44%Best |
| 1Y Return | +25.32%Best | +24.69% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.18%Best | +24.76% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.72%Best | +14.22% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.3%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -75.1%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,607Best | $19,441 |
| Top 10 Weight | 70.7% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | 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).
EWI 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.
EWI vs QQQ Performance
iShares MSCI Italy ETF (EWI) 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 EWI returned +25.32% while QQQ returned +24.69%. Year to date, EWI is up 13.56% versus a gain of 17.44% for QQQ.
Over three years, EWI compounded at +29.18% per year against +24.76% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +17.72% and +14.22% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs +1.27%.
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 23.3% for EWI. 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 -75.1% for EWI 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 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWI 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, EWI currently yields 3.04% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 26 holdings in EWI and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.8% 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 26 positions we hold weights for in EWI and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 32 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for EWI (96.8% of the fund), and 1 for EWI that do not appear in QQQ (0.0%).
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 EWI 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, EWI or QQQ?
EWI 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, EWI or QQQ?
Over the past year EWI returned +25.32% vs +24.69% for QQQ, so EWI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), EWI annualized +1.27% vs +13.04% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWI or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 23.3% for EWI. Worst drawdown: EWI -75.1% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both EWI and QQQ?
EWI and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, 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, EWI or QQQ?
EWI yields 3.04% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so EWI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than EWI?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. EWI led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.