QQQ vs SEA
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs US Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SEA?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, SEA over 1Y. SEA is less concentrated, with 46.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | SEA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.60% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $18M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 4.85% |
| Holdings | 321 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +22.67% | +44.69%Best |
| 1Y Return | +24.33% | +56.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.05%Best | +25.34% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.00% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7%Best | 24.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -29.6%Best | -39.5% |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $21,331Best | $17,221 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 46.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | ETF Series Solutions |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 19, 2022 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 20, 2022 to Oct 2, 2026 (4.7 years).
QQQ vs SEA 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 4.7 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SEA Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and US Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF (SEA) is an ETF from ETF Series Solutions. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% while SEA returned +56.07%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.67% versus a gain of 44.69% for SEA.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +29.05% per year against +25.34% for SEA.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.4% compared with 20.7% for QQQ. 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 -29.6% for QQQ and -39.5% for SEA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SEA charges 0.60%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $60 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 4.85% for SEA.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 35 in SEA, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% 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 35 in SEA, against full books of 321 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for SEA that do not appear in our book for QQQ (31.1% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in SEA (97.8%).
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 SEA 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 SEA?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SEA charges 0.60%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SEA?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% vs +56.07% for SEA, so SEA leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SEA?
SEA has been the more volatile fund at 24.4% annualized versus 20.7% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -29.6% vs SEA -39.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SEA?
QQQ and SEA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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 SEA?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SEA yields 4.85%, so SEA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEA better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, SEA over 1Y. SEA is less concentrated, with 46.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.