QQQ vs TPSC
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF
Which is better, QQQ or TPSC?
Large Cap Growth against Small Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. TPSC is less concentrated, with 4.2% 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 | TPSC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.52% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $374M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 107 | 435 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | +12.48% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63%Best | +13.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15%Best | +14.96% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16%Best | +8.29% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.9%Best | 21.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -41.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,390Best | $14,892 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 4.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Timothy Plan |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 2, 2019 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2019 to Sep 10, 2026 (6.8 years).
QQQ vs TPSC 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 6.8 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs TPSC Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF (TPSC) is an ETF from Timothy Plan. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while TPSC returned +13.75%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a gain of 12.48% for TPSC.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.15% per year against +14.96% for TPSC; over five years the annualized figures are +14.16% and +8.29% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +21.00% annualized vs +10.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TPSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.4% compared with 20.9% 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -41.9% for TPSC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TPSC charges 0.52%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $52 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.04% for TPSC.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings TPSC also owns. 0.1% of TPSC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 425 in TPSC, against full books of 107 and 435.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 416 positions for TPSC that do not appear in our book for QQQ (95.7% of the fund), and 94 for QQQ that do not appear in TPSC (96.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in TPSC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.28% | 0.09% | 0.19% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and TPSC 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 TPSC?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TPSC charges 0.52%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TPSC?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs +13.75% for TPSC, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), QQQ annualized +21.00% vs +10.83% for TPSC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TPSC?
TPSC has been the more volatile fund at 21.4% annualized versus 20.9% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs TPSC -41.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TPSC?
QQQ and TPSC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 TPSC?
QQQ yields 0.44% while TPSC yields 1.04%, so TPSC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TPSC better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. TPSC is less concentrated, with 4.2% 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.