QQQ vs SCUS
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SCUS?
Large Cap Growth against Ultrashort Term Bond.
SCUS has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y 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 | SCUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.14%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $258M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.86% |
| Holdings | 107 | 150 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | +2.23% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63%Best | +3.62% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 0.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -0.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $15,562Best | $10,874 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Ultrashort Term Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Aug 13, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 13, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.1 years).
QQQ vs SCUS 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SCUS Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF (SCUS) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while SCUS returned +3.62%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a gain of 2.23% for SCUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 0.7% for SCUS. 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 -0.4% for SCUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.21. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SCUS charges 0.14%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $14 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.86% for SCUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 65 in SCUS, totalling 99.9% and 31.9% 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 65 in SCUS, against full books of 107 and 150.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SCUS 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 SCUS?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCUS charges 0.14%. SCUS is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SCUS?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs +3.62% for SCUS, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +23.44% vs +4.07% for SCUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SCUS?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 0.7% for SCUS. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SCUS -0.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SCUS?
QQQ and SCUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.21, 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 SCUS?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SCUS yields 3.86%, so SCUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCUS better than QQQ?
SCUS has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.