PSCF vs QQQ
Invesco S&P SmallCap Financials ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PSCF or QQQ?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PSCF is less concentrated, with 15.2% 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 | PSCF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $30M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.16% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 168 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +6.41% | +20.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.58% | +23.67%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.72% | +27.71%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.37% | +16.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.6% | 17.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.9% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,802 | $21,276Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.2%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 7, 2010 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 7, 2010 to Sep 30, 2026 (16.5 years).
PSCF 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 16.5 years both funds cover.
PSCF vs QQQ Performance
Invesco S&P SmallCap Financials ETF (PSCF) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PSCF returned +7.58% while QQQ returned +23.67%. Year to date, PSCF is up 6.41% versus a gain of 20.94% for QQQ.
Over three years, PSCF compounded at +16.72% per year against +27.71% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.37% and +16.30% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.19% annualized vs +6.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PSCF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 17.6% 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 -49.9% for PSCF 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSCF charges 0.29% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $18 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSCF currently yields 2.16% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 163 holdings in PSCF and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 163 positions we hold weights for in PSCF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 168 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PSCF (97.5% of the fund), and 159 for PSCF that do not appear in QQQ (97.7%).
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 PSCF 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, PSCF or QQQ?
PSCF has an expense ratio of 0.29% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSCF or QQQ?
Over the past year PSCF returned +7.58% vs +23.67% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), PSCF annualized +6.27% vs +18.19% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSCF or QQQ?
PSCF has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 17.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PSCF -49.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PSCF and QQQ?
PSCF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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, PSCF or QQQ?
PSCF yields 2.16% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PSCF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PSCF?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PSCF is less concentrated, with 15.2% 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.