QQQ vs SCJ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SCJ?
Large Cap Growth against Small Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCJ is less concentrated, with 5.9% 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 | SCJ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $261M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.67% |
| Holdings | 107 | 794 |
| YTD Return | +21.16%Best | +19.04% |
| 1Y Return | +24.78%Best | +21.85% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.95%Best | +18.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.36%Best | +7.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.0% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.3% | -43.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,430Best | $14,137 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 5.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 20, 2007 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 21, 2007 to Sep 24, 2026 (18.8 years).
QQQ vs SCJ 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 18.8 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SCJ Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (SCJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +24.78% while SCJ returned +21.85%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.16% versus a gain of 19.04% for SCJ.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +27.95% per year against +18.99% for SCJ; over five years the annualized figures are +15.36% and +7.17% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.43% annualized vs +4.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% compared with 15.0% for SCJ. 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 -51.3% for QQQ and -43.7% for SCJ. 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 SCJ charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $50 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.67% for SCJ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 725 in SCJ, totalling 99.9% and 96.8% 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 725 in SCJ, against full books of 107 and 794.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for SCJ that do not appear in our book for QQQ (0.0% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in SCJ (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 SCJ 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 SCJ?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCJ charges 0.50%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SCJ?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.78% vs +21.85% for SCJ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +15.43% vs +4.86% for SCJ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SCJ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 15.0% for SCJ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -51.3% vs SCJ -43.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SCJ?
QQQ and SCJ 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 SCJ?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SCJ yields 2.67%, so SCJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCJ better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCJ is less concentrated, with 5.9% 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.