PCEM vs QQQ
Polen Capital Emerging Markets ex-China Growth ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PCEM or QQQ?
Each has led over a different period.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PCEM led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. PCEM is less concentrated, with 45.0% 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 | PCEM | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.00% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.34% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 35 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.9%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $11,909 | $12,896Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.0%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 10, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 176 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. PCEM has data through Mar 16, 2026 and QQQ through Sep 8, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 11, 2024 to Mar 16, 2026 (1.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 13.7% 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 -19.9% for PCEM 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 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCEM charges 1.00% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $100 vs $18 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCEM currently yields 0.34% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
3.6% of PCEM's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings PCEM also owns.
PCEM and QQQ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 250 days apart, PCEM as of Nov 28, 2025 and QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in PCEM and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 35 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PCEM (96.4% of the fund), and 0 for PCEM that do not appear in QQQ (0.0%).
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 PCEM | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELIMercadolibre Inc | 3.64% | 0.43% | 3.21% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCEM 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, PCEM or QQQ?
PCEM has an expense ratio of 1.00% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, PCEM or QQQ?
PCEM has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 13.7% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PCEM -19.9% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both PCEM and QQQ?
PCEM and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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 PCEM and QQQ?
3.6% of PCEM's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.4% of QQQ's is in holdings PCEM also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in PCEM and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCEM or QQQ?
PCEM yields 0.34% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PCEM?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PCEM led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. PCEM is less concentrated, with 45.0% 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.