QQQ vs SMOM

QQQ vs SMOM

Which is better, QQQ or SMOM?

Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: QQQ

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

MetricQQQSMOM
Expense Ratio0.18%Best0.63%
AUM$498.6B$73M
Dividend Yield0.42%0.14%
Holdings3218
YTD Return+22.67%Best+13.62%
1Y Return+24.33%Best+13.66%
3Y Return (annualized)+29.05%-
5Y Return (annualized)+17.00%-
Volatility (annualized)21.0%10.3%Best
Max Drawdown-12.0%-7.5%Best
$10,000 over 1.1 years$13,114Best$11,719
Top 10 Weight47.2%-
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Symmetry Partners
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap GrowthLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMar 10, 1999Sep 9, 2025

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 10, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.1 years).

QQQ vs SMOM 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 1.1 years both funds cover.

QQQ vs SMOM Performance

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Symmetry Panoramic Sector Momentum ETF (SMOM) is an ETF from Symmetry Partners. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% while SMOM returned +13.66%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.67% versus a gain of 13.62% for SMOM.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 10.3% for SMOM. 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -7.5% for SMOM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SMOM charges 0.63%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $63 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.14% for SMOM.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 7 in SMOM, totalling 99.9% and 100.1% 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 7 in SMOM, against full books of 321 and 8.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 7 positions for SMOM that do not appear in our book for QQQ (100.1% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in SMOM (97.8%).

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.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of QQQ and SMOM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

QQQSMOM

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QQQ or SMOM?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SMOM charges 0.63%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QQQ or SMOM?

Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% vs +13.66% for SMOM, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +27.95% vs +15.51% for SMOM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QQQ or SMOM?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 10.3% for SMOM. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs SMOM -7.5%.

Should I hold both QQQ and SMOM?

QQQ and SMOM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 SMOM?

QQQ yields 0.42% while SMOM yields 0.14%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SMOM better than QQQ?

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.