QQQ vs STEW
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs SRH Total Return Fund
Which is better, QQQ or STEW?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | STEW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 2.28% |
| AUM | $486.1B | $2.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.20% |
| Holdings | 107 | 24 |
| YTD Return | +17.44%Best | +2.61% |
| 1Y Return | +24.69%Best | +3.57% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.76%Best | +15.07% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.22%Best | +10.04% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.5% | 18.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -78.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,441Best | $16,134 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Paralel Advisors LLC |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 31, 2002 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 29, 1999 to Sep 8, 2026 (26.7 years).
QQQ vs STEW 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 26.7 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs STEW Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and SRH Total Return Fund (STEW) is an ETF from Paralel Advisors LLC. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.69% while STEW returned +3.57%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.44% versus a gain of 2.61% for STEW.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.76% per year against +15.07% for STEW; over five years the annualized figures are +14.22% and +10.04% respectively. Across the full 27-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +10.96% annualized vs +3.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.5% compared with 18.3% for STEW. 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 -83.0% for QQQ and -78.2% for STEW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while STEW charges 2.28%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $228 annually, a gap of $210 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.20% for STEW.
Holdings Overlap
At least 10.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings STEW also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for STEW, our book for it lists positions totalling 111.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
QQQ and STEW share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 66 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and STEW as of May 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
4 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 23 in STEW, against full books of 107 and 24.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and STEW 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 STEW?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while STEW charges 2.28%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $210 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or STEW?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.69% vs +3.57% for STEW, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (27 years), QQQ annualized +10.96% vs +3.73% for STEW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or STEW?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.5% annualized versus 18.3% for STEW. Worst drawdown: QQQ -83.0% vs STEW -78.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and STEW?
QQQ and STEW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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 STEW?
At least 10.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings STEW also owns. Our book for STEW is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 23 in STEW.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or STEW?
QQQ yields 0.44% while STEW yields 3.20%, so STEW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STEW better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.