EWL vs QQQ
iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, EWL or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.5%.
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 | EWL | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.74% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 48 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +1.77% | +17.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.06% | +22.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.24% | +25.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.59% | +14.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.1%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,759 | $19,766Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 65.5% | 46.5%Best |
| 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 17, 2026 (27.5 years).
EWL 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.
EWL vs QQQ Performance
iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF (EWL) 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 EWL returned +11.06% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, EWL is up 1.77% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Over three years, EWL compounded at +12.24% per year against +25.27% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +6.59% and +14.60% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.02% annualized vs +5.30%.
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 15.9% for EWL. 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 -53.1% for EWL 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWL 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, EWL currently yields 1.74% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
13.6% of EWL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings EWL also owns.
EWL and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in EWL and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 48 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for EWL (97.4% of the fund), and 1 for EWL 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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EWL | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROPRoper Technologies Inc. | 13.64% | 0.17% | 13.47% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWL 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, EWL or QQQ?
EWL 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, EWL or QQQ?
Over the past year EWL returned +11.06% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), EWL annualized +5.30% vs +13.02% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWL or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 15.9% for EWL. Worst drawdown: EWL -53.1% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both EWL and QQQ?
EWL and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 EWL and QQQ?
13.6% of EWL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.2% of QQQ's is in holdings EWL also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in EWL and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, EWL or QQQ?
EWL yields 1.74% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so EWL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than EWL?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.