QQQ vs SCHY
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SCHY?
Large Cap Growth against All Cap Blend.
SCHY has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHY is less concentrated, with 39.6% 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 | SCHY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $2.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.34% |
| Holdings | 107 | 104 |
| YTD Return | +21.71%Best | +8.67% |
| 1Y Return | +25.89%Best | +19.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.80%Best | +16.61% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.67%Best | +8.85% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.5% | 13.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -24.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,706Best | $15,281 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 39.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | All Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 28, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 29, 2021 to Sep 25, 2026 (5.4 years).
QQQ vs SCHY 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 5.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SCHY Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (SCHY) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% while SCHY returned +19.78%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.71% versus a gain of 8.67% for SCHY.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +28.80% per year against +16.61% for SCHY; over five years the annualized figures are +15.67% and +8.85% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.5% compared with 13.8% for SCHY. 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 -24.0% for SCHY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SCHY charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $8 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.34% for SCHY.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings SCHY also owns. 4.3% of SCHY's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
SCHY and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 102 in SCHY, against full books of 107 and 104.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 6 positions for SCHY that do not appear in our book for QQQ (1.2% of the fund), and 95 for QQQ that do not appear in SCHY (97.4%).
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 SCHY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROPRoper Technologies Inc. | 0.17% | 4.26% | 4.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SCHY 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 SCHY?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCHY charges 0.08%. SCHY is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SCHY?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% vs +19.78% for SCHY, 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 SCHY?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.5% annualized versus 13.8% for SCHY. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SCHY -24.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SCHY?
QQQ and SCHY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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 QQQ and SCHY?
4.3% of SCHY's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 4.3% of SCHY's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 102 in SCHY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SCHY?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SCHY yields 3.34%, so SCHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHY better than QQQ?
SCHY has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHY is less concentrated, with 39.6% 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.