QQQ vs SIL
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Global X Silver Miners ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SIL?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, SIL over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 75.7%.
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 | SIL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $5.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 107 | 42 |
| YTD Return | +21.71%Best | +10.45% |
| 1Y Return | +25.89% | +35.79%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.80% | +58.49%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.67% | +21.97%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6%Best | 40.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -83.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,706 | $26,994Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 75.7% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Global X by mirae Asset |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 19, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2010 to Sep 25, 2026 (16.4 years).
QQQ vs SIL 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 16.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SIL Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset. Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% while SIL returned +35.79%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.71% versus a gain of 10.45% for SIL.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +28.80% per year against +58.49% for SIL; over five years the annualized figures are +15.67% and +21.97% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.13% annualized vs +4.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SIL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 40.4% compared with 17.6% 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -83.4% for SIL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.26. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SIL 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 1.04% for SIL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 39 in SIL, 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 39 in SIL, against full books of 107 and 42.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 6 positions for SIL that do not appear in our book for QQQ (22.3% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in SIL (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 SIL 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 SIL?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SIL charges 0.65%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SIL?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% vs +35.79% for SIL, so SIL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), QQQ annualized +18.13% vs +4.93% for SIL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SIL?
SIL has been the more volatile fund at 40.4% annualized versus 17.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SIL -83.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SIL?
QQQ and SIL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.26, 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 SIL?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SIL yields 1.04%, so SIL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SIL better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, SIL over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 75.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.