QQQ vs SCHC
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SCHC?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
SCHC has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHC is less concentrated, with 3.5% 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 | SCHC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $5.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.27% |
| Holdings | 107 | 2,271 |
| YTD Return | +22.20%Best | +11.71% |
| 1Y Return | +24.58%Best | +16.14% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.38%Best | +20.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.80%Best | +6.79% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 17.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -47.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,823Best | $13,888 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 3.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 14, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 14, 2010 to Sep 22, 2026 (16.7 years).
QQQ vs SCHC 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs SCHC Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (SCHC) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.58% while SCHC returned +16.14%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.20% versus a gain of 11.71% for SCHC.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +28.38% per year against +20.22% for SCHC; over five years the annualized figures are +15.80% and +6.79% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.35% annualized vs +5.23%.
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 17.4% for SCHC. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -47.1% for SCHC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SCHC charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $6 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.27% for SCHC.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 2,147 in SCHC, 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 2,147 in SCHC, against full books of 107 and 2,271.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 27 positions for SCHC that do not appear in our book for QQQ (2.2% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in SCHC (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 SCHC 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 SCHC?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCHC charges 0.06%. SCHC is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SCHC?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.58% vs +16.14% for SCHC, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), QQQ annualized +18.35% vs +5.23% for SCHC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SCHC?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 17.4% for SCHC. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SCHC -47.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SCHC?
QQQ and SCHC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 SCHC?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SCHC yields 3.27%, so SCHC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHC better than QQQ?
SCHC has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHC is less concentrated, with 3.5% 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.