QQQ vs SCHZ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Schwab US Aggregate Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SCHZ?
QQQ has been ahead.
SCHZ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | SCHZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $10.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 4.19% |
| Holdings | 107 | 12,372 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | -0.96% |
| 1Y Return | +22.10%Best | -0.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.27%Best | +3.98% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.60%Best | -0.54% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 4.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -19.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,766Best | $9,733 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jul 14, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2011 to Sep 17, 2026 (15.2 years).
QQQ vs SCHZ 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 SCHZ Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab US Aggregate Bond ETF (SCHZ) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% while SCHZ returned -0.40%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a loss of 0.96% for SCHZ.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.27% per year against +3.98% for SCHZ; over five years the annualized figures are +14.60% and -0.54% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.39% annualized vs +0.51%.
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 4.5% for SCHZ. 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 -19.7% for SCHZ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SCHZ charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 4.19% for SCHZ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings SCHZ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SCHZ, our book for it covers 63.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and SCHZ share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 10,446 in SCHZ, against full books of 107 and 12,372.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SCHZ 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 SCHZ?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCHZ charges 0.03%. SCHZ is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SCHZ?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% vs -0.40% for SCHZ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), QQQ annualized +18.39% vs +0.51% for SCHZ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SCHZ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 4.5% for SCHZ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SCHZ -19.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SCHZ?
QQQ and SCHZ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, 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 SCHZ?
At least 2.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings SCHZ also owns. Our book for SCHZ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 10,446 in SCHZ.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SCHZ?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SCHZ yields 4.19%, so SCHZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHZ better than QQQ?
SCHZ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.