QQQ vs SCHE
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SCHE?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SCHE has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHE is less concentrated, with 29.8% 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 | SCHE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $13.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.64% |
| Holdings | 107 | 2,210 |
| YTD Return | +20.41%Best | +9.71% |
| 1Y Return | +23.46%Best | +13.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.85%Best | +18.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.07%Best | +6.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 17.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -43.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,067Best | $13,954 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 29.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 14, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 14, 2010 to Sep 28, 2026 (16.7 years).
QQQ vs SCHE 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 SCHE Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SCHE) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +23.46% while SCHE returned +13.71%. Year to date, QQQ is up 20.41% versus a gain of 9.71% for SCHE.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +27.85% per year against +18.97% for SCHE; over five years the annualized figures are +16.07% and +6.89% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.23% annualized vs +3.19%.
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 17.1% for SCHE. 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 -43.1% for SCHE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SCHE 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 2.64% for SCHE.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings SCHE also owns. 0.6% of SCHE's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 2,133 in SCHE, against full books of 107 and 2,210.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 28 positions for SCHE that do not appear in our book for QQQ (2.9% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in SCHE (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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in SCHE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc. | 0.27% | 0.59% | 0.32% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SCHE 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 SCHE?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCHE charges 0.06%. SCHE is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SCHE?
Over the past year QQQ returned +23.46% vs +13.71% for SCHE, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), QQQ annualized +18.23% vs +3.19% for SCHE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SCHE?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 17.1% for SCHE. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SCHE -43.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SCHE?
QQQ and SCHE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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 SCHE?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SCHE yields 2.64%, so SCHE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHE better than QQQ?
SCHE has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHE is less concentrated, with 29.8% 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.