QQQ vs QSML
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs WisdomTree US SmallCap Quality Growth Fund
Which is better, QQQ or QSML?
Large Cap Growth against Small Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QSML is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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 | QQQ | QSML |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.38% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $13M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.52% |
| Holdings | 107 | 391 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | +14.94% |
| 1Y Return | +22.10%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.27% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.60% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2%Best | 17.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -28.3% |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $16,888Best | $13,392 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 6.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Small Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 25, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 25, 2024 to Sep 17, 2026 (2.6 years).
QQQ vs QSML 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs QSML Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and WisdomTree US SmallCap Quality Growth Fund (QSML) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% while QSML returned +17.51%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a gain of 14.94% for QSML.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QSML has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% compared with 17.2% 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -28.3% for QSML. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while QSML charges 0.38%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $38 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.52% for QSML.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 375 in QSML, totalling 99.9% and 99.2% 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 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 375 in QSML, against full books of 107 and 391.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 362 positions for QSML that do not appear in our book for QQQ (95.1% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in QSML (97.5%).
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 QQQ and QSML 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, QQQ or QSML?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while QSML charges 0.38%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or QSML?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% vs +17.51% for QSML, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or QSML?
QSML has been the more volatile fund at 17.9% annualized versus 17.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs QSML -28.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and QSML?
QQQ and QSML have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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, QQQ or QSML?
QQQ yields 0.44% while QSML yields 0.52%, so QSML currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QSML better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QSML is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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.