NBSM vs QQQ
Neuberger Berman Small-Mid Cap ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, NBSM or QQQ?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. NBSM is less concentrated, with 20.2% 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 | NBSM | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $114M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 80 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +9.88% | +21.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.33% | +25.89%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +28.80% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.67% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 17.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -25.2% | -22.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $11,036 | $16,844Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.2%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Neuberger Berman | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 20, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026 (2.5 years).
NBSM 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 2.5 years both funds cover.
NBSM vs QQQ Performance
Neuberger Berman Small-Mid Cap ETF (NBSM) is an ETF from Neuberger Berman and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year NBSM returned +11.33% while QQQ returned +25.89%. Year to date, NBSM is up 9.88% versus a gain of 21.71% 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 17.6% compared with 14.8% for NBSM. 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 -25.2% for NBSM 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 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NBSM charges 0.65% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $18 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NBSM currently yields 0.35% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 76 holdings in NBSM and 102 in QQQ, totalling 98.2% 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 76 positions we hold weights for in NBSM and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 80 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for NBSM (97.5% of the fund), and 74 for NBSM that do not appear in QQQ (95.6%).
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 NBSM 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, NBSM or QQQ?
NBSM has an expense ratio of 0.65% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NBSM or QQQ?
Over the past year NBSM returned +11.33% vs +25.89% 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, NBSM or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 14.8% for NBSM. Worst drawdown: NBSM -25.2% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both NBSM and QQQ?
NBSM and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, 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, NBSM or QQQ?
NBSM yields 0.35% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than NBSM?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. NBSM is less concentrated, with 20.2% 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.