MCDS vs QQQ
JPMorgan Fundamental Data Science Mid Core ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, MCDS or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. MCDS is less concentrated, with 13.9% 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 | MCDS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $9M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 207 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +11.39% | +15.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.63% | +19.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.93% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.0%Best | 18.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.5%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $13,138 | $15,873Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.9%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | J.P. Morgan Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 7, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 8, 2024 to Sep 16, 2026 (2.1 years).
MCDS 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
MCDS vs QQQ Performance
JPMorgan Fundamental Data Science Mid Core ETF (MCDS) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year MCDS returned +14.63% while QQQ returned +19.78%. Year to date, MCDS is up 11.39% versus a gain of 15.21% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 13.0% for MCDS. 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 -22.5% for MCDS 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MCDS charges 0.35% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $18 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MCDS currently yields 1.04% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
8.8% of MCDS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 4.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings MCDS also owns.
MCDS and QQQ share little of their money.
18 positions in common, counted across the 204 positions we hold weights for in MCDS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 207 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 78 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for MCDS (92.9% of the fund), and 179 for MCDS that do not appear in QQQ (88.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MCDS | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 0.98% | 0.27% | 0.71% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp Company Guar 11/28 3 | 0.35% | 0.79% | 0.44% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.84% | 0.21% | 0.63% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc | 0.56% | 0.41% | 0.15% |
| ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. | 0.59% | 0.36% | 0.23% |
| BKRBaker Hughes Co | 0.61% | 0.27% | 0.34% |
| FANGDiamondback Energy, Inc. | 0.60% | 0.23% | 0.37% |
| TTWOTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc. | 0.62% | 0.19% | 0.43% |
| ADSKAutodesk, Inc. | 0.57% | 0.22% | 0.35% |
| KDPKeurig Dr Pepper Inc (kdp Us) | 0.58% | 0.18% | 0.40% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MCDS 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, MCDS or QQQ?
MCDS has an expense ratio of 0.35% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MCDS or QQQ?
Over the past year MCDS returned +14.63% vs +19.78% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), MCDS annualized +13.88% vs +24.61% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MCDS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 13.0% for MCDS. Worst drawdown: MCDS -22.5% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both MCDS and QQQ?
MCDS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 MCDS and QQQ?
8.8% of MCDS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 4.7% of QQQ's is in holdings MCDS also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 204 positions we hold weights for in MCDS and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, MCDS or QQQ?
MCDS yields 1.04% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so MCDS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than MCDS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. MCDS is less concentrated, with 13.9% 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.