QQQ vs SEMI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Columbia Select Technology ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SEMI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. SEMI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.8%.
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 | SEMI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.75% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $40M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.76% |
| Holdings | 107 | 36 |
| YTD Return | +15.94% | +20.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.44% | +27.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.86% | +26.56%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.26% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0%Best | 28.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -29.2%Best | -32.9% |
| $10,000 over 4.5 years | $19,959 | $20,153Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 65.8% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Columbia Threadneedle Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 29, 2022 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 30, 2022 to Sep 14, 2026 (4.5 years).
QQQ vs SEMI 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 4.5 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SEMI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Columbia Select Technology ETF (SEMI) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% while SEMI returned +27.61%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.94% versus a gain of 20.88% for SEMI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.86% per year against +26.56% for SEMI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEMI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.9% compared with 21.0% 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 -29.2% for QQQ and -32.9% for SEMI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SEMI charges 0.75%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $75 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.76% for SEMI.
Holdings Overlap
60.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings SEMI also owns. 81.0% of SEMI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of SEMI is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
25 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 35 in SEMI, against full books of 107 and 36.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 8 positions for SEMI that do not appear in our book for QQQ (9.5% of the fund), and 72 for QQQ that do not appear in SEMI (37.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in SEMI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 14.72% | 6.28% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 8.11% | 0.84% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 6.36% | 0.60% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 6.71% | 2.28% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 7.67% | 4.51% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 3.68% | 0.99% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.69% | 6.25% | 4.56% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 4.29% | 0.93% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 1.86% | 3.15% | 1.29% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.45% | 2.00% |
81.0% of SEMI is already inside QQQ.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or SEMI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SEMI charges 0.75%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SEMI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% vs +27.61% for SEMI, so SEMI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SEMI?
SEMI has been the more volatile fund at 28.9% annualized versus 21.0% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -29.2% vs SEMI -32.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SEMI?
QQQ and SEMI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and SEMI?
81.0% of SEMI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 81.0% of SEMI's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 35 in SEMI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SEMI?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SEMI yields 3.76%, so SEMI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEMI better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. SEMI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.