QQQ vs SUSA
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares ESG Optimized MSCI USA ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SUSA?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. SUSA is less concentrated, with 31.2% 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 | SUSA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.25% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $4.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.82% |
| Holdings | 107 | 198 |
| YTD Return | +15.94%Best | +11.71% |
| 1Y Return | +20.44%Best | +16.53% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.86%Best | +19.65% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.26%Best | +10.50% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -54.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,475Best | $16,474 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 31.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 24, 2005 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2005 to Sep 14, 2026 (21.6 years).
QQQ vs SUSA 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 21.6 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SUSA Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares ESG Optimized MSCI USA ETF (SUSA) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% while SUSA returned +16.53%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.94% versus a gain of 11.71% for SUSA.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.86% per year against +19.65% for SUSA; over five years the annualized figures are +14.26% and +10.50% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.82% annualized vs +9.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 15.2% for SUSA. 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 -54.9% for SUSA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SUSA charges 0.25%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $25 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.82% for SUSA.
Holdings Overlap
72.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings SUSA also owns. 46.1% of SUSA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside SUSA. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
54 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 206 in SUSA, against full books of 107 and 198.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 147 positions for SUSA that do not appear in our book for QQQ (51.9% of the fund), and 42 for QQQ that do not appear in SUSA (24.9%).
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 SUSA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 7.22% | 1.22% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 6.23% | 1.04% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 4.39% | 1.37% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 3.12% | 0.01% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 1.59% | 2.84% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 2.66% | 0.50% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 1.72% | 1.64% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.28% | 2.17% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.56% | 1.59% | 0.97% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 2.23% | 0.66% | 1.57% |
72.7% of QQQ is already inside SUSA.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or SUSA?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SUSA charges 0.25%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SUSA?
Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% vs +16.53% for SUSA, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), QQQ annualized +14.82% vs +9.15% for SUSA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SUSA?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 15.2% for SUSA. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs SUSA -54.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SUSA?
QQQ and SUSA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and SUSA?
72.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings SUSA also owns. 46.1% of SUSA's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 54 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 206 in SUSA.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SUSA?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SUSA yields 0.82%, so SUSA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SUSA better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. SUSA is less concentrated, with 31.2% 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.