GSC vs QQQ
Goldman Sachs Small Cap Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GSC or QQQ?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. GSC is less concentrated, with 15.7% 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 | GSC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $279M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.13% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 99 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +14.55% | +15.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.67% | +22.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.50% | +24.15%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.5% | 17.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -27.0% | -22.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.9 years | $15,963 | $19,922Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.7%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 3, 2023 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 5, 2023 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.9 years).
GSC 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 2.9 years both funds cover.
GSC vs QQQ Performance
Goldman Sachs Small Cap Equity ETF (GSC) is an ETF from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GSC returned +17.67% while QQQ returned +22.63%. Year to date, GSC is up 14.55% versus a gain of 15.86% for QQQ.
Over three years, GSC compounded at +17.50% per year against +24.15% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.5% compared with 17.4% 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 -27.0% for GSC and -22.8% 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GSC charges 0.75% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $18 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GSC currently yields 0.13% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 97 holdings in GSC and 102 in QQQ, totalling 98.3% 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 97 positions we hold weights for in GSC and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 99 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for GSC (97.0% of the fund), and 90 for GSC that do not appear in QQQ (92.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GSC 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, GSC or QQQ?
GSC has an expense ratio of 0.75% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GSC or QQQ?
Over the past year GSC returned +17.67% vs +22.63% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GSC or QQQ?
GSC has been the more volatile fund at 18.5% annualized versus 17.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: GSC -27.0% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both GSC and QQQ?
GSC and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, GSC or QQQ?
GSC yields 0.13% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GSC?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. GSC is less concentrated, with 15.7% 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.