QQQ vs SDG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SDG?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDG is less concentrated, with 36.9% 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 | SDG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $176M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.63% |
| Holdings | 107 | 147 |
| YTD Return | +22.20%Best | +6.48% |
| 1Y Return | +24.58%Best | +11.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.38%Best | +8.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.80%Best | +0.41% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -30.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,823Best | $10,207 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 36.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 20, 2016 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 22, 2016 to Sep 22, 2026 (10.4 years).
QQQ vs SDG 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 10.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SDG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF (SDG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +24.58% while SDG returned +11.22%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.20% versus a gain of 6.48% for SDG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +28.38% per year against +8.38% for SDG; over five years the annualized figures are +15.80% and +0.41% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.68% annualized vs +7.16%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 14.4% for SDG. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -30.4% for SDG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SDG 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 1.63% for SDG.
Holdings Overlap
10.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings SDG also owns. 11.8% of SDG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
SDG and QQQ share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 121 in SDG, against full books of 107 and 147.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 17 positions for SDG that do not appear in our book for QQQ (24.9% of the fund), and 90 for QQQ that do not appear in SDG (87.1%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SDG 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 SDG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SDG charges 0.50%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SDG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.58% vs +11.22% for SDG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), QQQ annualized +20.68% vs +7.16% for SDG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SDG?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 14.4% for SDG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SDG -30.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SDG?
QQQ and SDG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and SDG?
11.8% of SDG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 11.8% of SDG's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 121 in SDG.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SDG?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SDG yields 1.63%, so SDG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SDG better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDG is less concentrated, with 36.9% 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.