QQQ vs SETM
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Sprott Critical Materials ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SETM?
Large Cap Growth against Energy.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, SETM over 1Y. SETM is less concentrated, with 40.2% 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 | SETM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $613M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.31% |
| Holdings | 107 | 158 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | +2.98% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77% | +37.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +22.90% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3%Best | 32.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -41.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $23,475Best | $16,410 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 40.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Sprott ETFS |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Energy |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 1, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (3.6 years).
QQQ vs SETM 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 3.6 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SETM Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM) is an ETF from Sprott ETFS. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while SETM returned +37.94%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 2.98% for SETM.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +22.90% for SETM. Across the full 4-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +26.75% annualized vs +14.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SETM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 32.5% compared with 17.3% 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -41.8% for SETM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SETM charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $65 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.31% for SETM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 155 in SETM, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% 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 155 in SETM, against full books of 107 and 158.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 13 positions for SETM that do not appear in our book for QQQ (16.7% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in SETM (97.5%).
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 SETM 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 SETM?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SETM charges 0.65%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SETM?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +37.94% for SETM, so SETM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), QQQ annualized +26.75% vs +14.75% for SETM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SETM?
SETM has been the more volatile fund at 32.5% annualized versus 17.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SETM -41.8%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SETM?
QQQ and SETM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, 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 SETM?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SETM yields 1.31%, so SETM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SETM better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y and the full window, SETM over 1Y. SETM is less concentrated, with 40.2% 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.