QQQ vs SCMB
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Schwab Municipal Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SCMB?
Large Cap Growth against Municipal Bond.
SCMB has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | SCMB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $4.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.60% |
| Holdings | 107 | 6,809 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | -2.04% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | -0.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +2.43% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 6.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -6.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $27,730Best | $11,154 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Investment Mangement |
| Category | Equity | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Municipal Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 11, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 12, 2022 to Sep 11, 2026 (3.9 years).
QQQ vs SCMB 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 SCMB Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab Municipal Bond ETF (SCMB) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Investment Mangement. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while SCMB returned -0.34%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a loss of 2.04% for SCMB.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +2.43% for SCMB. Across the full 4-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +29.89% annualized vs +2.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% compared with 6.1% for SCMB. 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -6.1% for SCMB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SCMB 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 3.60% for SCMB.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 2,368 in SCMB, totalling 99.9% and 23.9% 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 2,368 in SCMB, against full books of 107 and 6,809.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SCMB 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 SCMB?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCMB charges 0.03%. SCMB is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SCMB?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs -0.34% for SCMB, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), QQQ annualized +29.89% vs +2.84% for SCMB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SCMB?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 6.1% for SCMB. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SCMB -6.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SCMB?
QQQ and SCMB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 SCMB?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SCMB yields 3.60%, so SCMB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCMB better than QQQ?
SCMB has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.