QQQ vs SMDV
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs ProShares S&P SmallCap 600 Dividend Aristocrats ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SMDV?
Large Cap Growth against Small Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SMDV over 1Y.
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 | SMDV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.40% |
| AUM | $437.3B | $662M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 2.35% |
| Holdings | 208 | 211 |
| YTD Return | +12.98% | +13.73%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.59% | +13.95%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.05%Best | +12.47% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.74%Best | +4.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,213Best | $12,379 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 3, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2015 to Nov 11, 2026 (11.8 years).
QQQ vs SMDV 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SMDV Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ProShares S&P SmallCap 600 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (SMDV) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% while SMDV returned +13.95%. Year to date, QQQ is up 12.98% versus a gain of 13.73% for SMDV.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +23.05% per year against +12.47% for SMDV; over five years the annualized figures are +12.74% and +4.36% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +17.81% annualized vs +7.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 16.0% for SMDV. 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 -34.1% for SMDV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.48. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SMDV charges 0.40%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $40 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.43% against 2.35% for SMDV.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 67 in SMDV, totalling 99.7% and 94.7% 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 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 67 in SMDV, against full books of 208 and 211.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SMDV 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 SMDV?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SMDV charges 0.40%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SMDV?
Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% vs +13.95% for SMDV, so SMDV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), QQQ annualized +17.81% vs +7.69% for SMDV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SMDV?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 16.0% for SMDV. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SMDV -34.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SMDV?
QQQ and SMDV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.48, 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 SMDV?
QQQ yields 0.43% while SMDV yields 2.35%, so SMDV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMDV better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SMDV over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.