QQQ vs STCE
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Schwab Crypto Thematic Natural Language Processing ETF
Which is better, QQQ or STCE?
Large Cap Growth against Multi Alternative.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, STCE over 3Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%.
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 | STCE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.30% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $213M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.74% |
| Holdings | 107 | 37 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | +5.22% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | +2.35% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98% | +48.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9%Best | 57.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -54.1% |
| $10,000 over 4.1 years | $22,560 | $27,922Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 49.5% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Aug 4, 2022 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 4, 2022 to Sep 11, 2026 (4.1 years).
QQQ vs STCE 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 4.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs STCE Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab Crypto Thematic Natural Language Processing ETF (STCE) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while STCE returned +2.35%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 5.22% for STCE.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +48.87% for STCE. Across the full 4-year window we track, STCE has the edge at +28.46% annualized vs +21.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
STCE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 57.1% compared with 18.9% 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -54.1% for STCE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while STCE charges 0.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $30 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.74% for STCE.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings STCE also owns. 4.3% of STCE's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
STCE and QQQ share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 36 in STCE, against full books of 107 and 37.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 24 positions for STCE that do not appear in our book for QQQ (76.2% of the fund), and 93 for QQQ that do not appear in STCE (96.7%).
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 STCE 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 STCE?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while STCE charges 0.30%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or STCE?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +2.35% for STCE, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), QQQ annualized +21.95% vs +28.46% for STCE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or STCE?
STCE has been the more volatile fund at 57.1% annualized versus 18.9% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs STCE -54.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and STCE?
QQQ and STCE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 STCE?
4.3% of STCE's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 4.3% of STCE's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 36 in STCE.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or STCE?
QQQ yields 0.44% while STCE yields 1.74%, so STCE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STCE better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, STCE over 3Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.