FESC vs QQQ
First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FESC or QQQ?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. FESC is less concentrated, with 11.2% 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 | FESC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 1 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -7.11% | +21.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +25.89% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +28.80% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.67% |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.2%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | First Eagle Investments | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 30, 2026 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
FESC 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.
FESC vs QQQ Performance
First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF (FESC) is an ETF from First Eagle Investments and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Year to date, FESC is down 7.11% versus a gain of 21.71% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FESC charges 0.55% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $18 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FESC currently yields 0.00% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 184 holdings in FESC and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 184 positions we hold weights for in FESC and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FESC (97.5% of the fund), and 177 for FESC that do not appear in QQQ (96.0%).
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 FESC 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, FESC or QQQ?
FESC has an expense ratio of 0.55% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, FESC or QQQ?
FESC yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FESC?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. FESC is less concentrated, with 11.2% 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.