QQQ vs SMIZ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Zacks Small/Mid Cap ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SMIZ?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMIZ is less concentrated, with 11.3% 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 | SMIZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.55% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $271M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.55% |
| Holdings | 107 | 203 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | +11.18% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | +11.79% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +20.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 17.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -25.0% |
| $10,000 over 2.9 years | $20,261Best | $17,207 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 11.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Zacks |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 3, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 3, 2023 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.9 years).
QQQ vs SMIZ 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 2.9 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SMIZ Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Zacks Small/Mid Cap ETF (SMIZ) is an ETF from Zacks. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while SMIZ returned +11.79%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 11.18% for SMIZ.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +20.58% for SMIZ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 17.3% for SMIZ. 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 -25.0% for SMIZ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SMIZ charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $55 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.55% for SMIZ.
Holdings Overlap
4.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings SMIZ also owns. 5.1% of SMIZ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
SMIZ and QQQ share little of their money.
13 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 225 in SMIZ, against full books of 107 and 203.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 168 positions for SMIZ that do not appear in our book for QQQ (82.7% of the fund), and 82 for QQQ that do not appear in SMIZ (92.1%).
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 SMIZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WDCWestern Digital Corp. | 0.79% | 0.68% | 0.11% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc. | 0.53% | 0.46% | 0.07% |
| APPAppLovin Corp. Com Cl A | 0.56% | 0.42% | 0.14% |
| DXCMDexcom Inc. | 0.14% | 0.79% | 0.65% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 0.88% | 0.00% | 0.88% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc. Class A | 0.41% | 0.38% | 0.03% |
| KHCKraft Heinz Co. | 0.13% | 0.63% | 0.50% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.28% | 0.45% | 0.17% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corp | 0.42% | 0.23% | 0.19% |
| TTWOTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc. | 0.19% | 0.43% | 0.24% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SMIZ 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 SMIZ?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SMIZ charges 0.55%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SMIZ?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +11.79% for SMIZ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SMIZ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 17.3% for SMIZ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SMIZ -25.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SMIZ?
QQQ and SMIZ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and SMIZ?
5.1% of SMIZ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 5.1% of SMIZ's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 225 in SMIZ.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SMIZ?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SMIZ yields 0.55%, so SMIZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMIZ better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMIZ is less concentrated, with 11.3% 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.