QQQ vs SMOG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SMOG?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.0%.
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 | SMOG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.64% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $131M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 1.45% |
| Holdings | 321 | 57 |
| YTD Return | +24.32%Best | +3.98% |
| 1Y Return | +25.59%Best | +6.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.30%Best | +12.70% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.83%Best | -0.34% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8%Best | 28.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -84.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,766Best | $9,831 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2%Best | 59.0% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | VanEck |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 3, 2007 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 9, 2007 to Oct 6, 2026 (19.4 years).
QQQ vs SMOG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs SMOG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG) is an ETF from VanEck. Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% while SMOG returned +6.63%. Year to date, QQQ is up 24.32% versus a gain of 3.98% for SMOG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +28.30% per year against +12.70% for SMOG; over five years the annualized figures are +16.83% and -0.34% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.63% annualized vs +1.58%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMOG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.4% compared with 18.8% 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -84.4% for SMOG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SMOG charges 0.64%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $64 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 1.45% for SMOG.
Holdings Overlap
2.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings SMOG also owns. 7.8% of SMOG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
SMOG and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 55 in SMOG, against full books of 321 and 57.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 17 positions for SMOG that do not appear in our book for QQQ (31.9% of the fund), and 95 for QQQ that do not appear in SMOG (94.8%).
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 SMOG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.92% | 7.85% | 4.93% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SMOG 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 SMOG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SMOG charges 0.64%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SMOG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% vs +6.63% for SMOG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +15.63% vs +1.58% for SMOG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SMOG?
SMOG has been the more volatile fund at 28.4% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs SMOG -84.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SMOG?
QQQ and SMOG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 SMOG?
7.8% of SMOG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 7.8% of SMOG's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 55 in SMOG.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SMOG?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SMOG yields 1.45%, so SMOG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMOG better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.