QQQ vs SQLT
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Quality Factor ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SQLT?
Large Cap Growth against Small Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. SQLT is less concentrated, with 8.5% 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 | SQLT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.20% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $7M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.19% |
| Holdings | 107 | 513 |
| YTD Return | +15.21%Best | +7.97% |
| 1Y Return | +19.78% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.58% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.93% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 8.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 31, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
QQQ vs SQLT 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 SQLT Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Quality Factor ETF (SQLT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Year to date, QQQ is up 15.21% versus a gain of 7.97% for SQLT.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SQLT charges 0.20%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $20 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.19% for SQLT.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 488 in SQLT, totalling 99.9% and 100.2% 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 488 in SQLT, against full books of 107 and 513.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 477 positions for SQLT that do not appear in our book for QQQ (98.7% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in SQLT (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 SQLT 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 SQLT?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SQLT charges 0.20%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SQLT?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SQLT yields 0.19%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SQLT better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. SQLT is less concentrated, with 8.5% 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.