GSEU vs QQQ
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Europe Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GSEU 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. GSEU is less concentrated, with 18.0% 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 | GSEU | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $177M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.69% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 353 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +8.42% | +15.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.71% | +20.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.25% | +24.86%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.39% | +14.26%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.1%Best | 18.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.4% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,960 | $19,475Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 18.0%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 2, 2016 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 4, 2016 to Sep 14, 2026 (10.5 years).
GSEU 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 10.5 years both funds cover.
GSEU vs QQQ Performance
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Europe Equity ETF (GSEU) 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 GSEU returned +15.71% while QQQ returned +20.44%. Year to date, GSEU is up 8.42% versus a gain of 15.94% for QQQ.
Over three years, GSEU compounded at +17.25% per year against +24.86% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.39% and +14.26% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.19% annualized vs +7.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 16.1% for GSEU. 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 -39.4% for GSEU and -35.1% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GSEU charges 0.25% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $18 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GSEU currently yields 2.69% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of GSEU's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings GSEU also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 339 positions we hold weights for in GSEU and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 353 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for GSEU (97.3% of the fund), and 5 for GSEU that do not appear in QQQ (1.7%).
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 GSEU 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, GSEU or QQQ?
GSEU has an expense ratio of 0.25% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GSEU or QQQ?
Over the past year GSEU returned +15.71% vs +20.44% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), GSEU annualized +7.95% vs +20.19% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GSEU or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 16.1% for GSEU. Worst drawdown: GSEU -39.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both GSEU and QQQ?
GSEU and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, GSEU or QQQ?
GSEU yields 2.69% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so GSEU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GSEU?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GSEU is less concentrated, with 18.0% 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.