QQQ vs SCZ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SCZ?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCZ is less concentrated, with 2.8% 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 | SCZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.40% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $13.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.07% |
| Holdings | 107 | 2,080 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | +11.61% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | +15.38% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +17.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | +4.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.0% | 18.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.3%Best | -62.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $12,708 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 2.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 10, 2007 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2007 to Sep 11, 2026 (18.7 years).
QQQ vs SCZ 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 SCZ Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while SCZ returned +15.38%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 11.61% for SCZ.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +17.62% for SCZ; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +4.91% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.23% annualized vs +3.70%.
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 18.9% for SCZ. 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 -62.6% for SCZ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SCZ charges 0.40%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $40 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.07% for SCZ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 2,032 in SCZ, totalling 99.9% and 98.8% 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 2,032 in SCZ, against full books of 107 and 2,080.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 21 positions for SCZ that do not appear in our book for QQQ (0.8% of the fund), and 95 for QQQ that do not appear in SCZ (97.0%).
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 SCZ 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 SCZ?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCZ charges 0.40%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SCZ?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +15.38% for SCZ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +15.23% vs +3.70% for SCZ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SCZ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 18.9% for SCZ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -51.3% vs SCZ -62.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SCZ?
QQQ and SCZ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 SCZ?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SCZ yields 3.07%, so SCZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCZ better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCZ is less concentrated, with 2.8% 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.