QQQ vs SCO

QQQ vs SCO

Which is better, QQQ or SCO?

Large Cap Growth against Trading-Inverse Commodities.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: QQQ

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

MetricQQQSCO
Expense Ratio0.18%Best0.95%
AUM$483.5B$714M
Dividend Yield0.44%0.00%
Holdings1075
YTD Return+17.95%Best-74.58%
1Y Return+21.77%Best-70.64%
3Y Return (annualized)+25.63%Best-32.55%
5Y Return (annualized)+15.24%Best-43.32%
Volatility (annualized)17.7%Best114.4%
Max Drawdown-35.1%-
$10,000 over 5 years$20,324Best$585
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)ProShares
CategoryEquityAlternative
StyleLarge Cap GrowthTrading-Inverse Commodities
InceptionMar 10, 1999Nov 24, 2008

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 25, 2008 to Sep 18, 2026 (17.8 years).

QQQ vs SCO 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 17.8 years both funds cover.

QQQ vs SCO Performance

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Crude Oil (SCO) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while SCO returned -70.64%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a loss of 74.58% for SCO.

Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against -32.55% for SCO; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and -43.32% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.19% annualized vs -20.27%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SCO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 114.4% compared with 17.7% for QQQ. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.16. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SCO charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $95 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.00% for SCO.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 1 in SCO, totalling 99.9% and 34.3% 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 1 in SCO, against full books of 107 and 5.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of QQQ and SCO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

QQQSCO

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QQQ or SCO?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCO charges 0.95%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QQQ or SCO?

Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs -70.64% for SCO, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), QQQ annualized +20.19% vs -20.27% for SCO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QQQ or SCO?

SCO has been the more volatile fund at 114.4% annualized versus 17.7% for QQQ.

Should I hold both QQQ and SCO?

QQQ and SCO have a monthly-return correlation of -0.16, 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 SCO?

QQQ yields 0.44% while SCO yields 0.00%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SCO better than QQQ?

QQQ 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.