QQQ vs USCL
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares Climate Conscious & Transition MSCI USA ETF
Which is better, QQQ or USCL?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
USCL has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. USCL is less concentrated, with 44.9% 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 | USCL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $2.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 107 | 410 |
| YTD Return | +15.18%Best | +8.42% |
| 1Y Return | +19.65%Best | +11.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.60%Best | +19.08% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.94% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 12.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -19.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.3 years | $20,451Best | $17,779 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 44.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 6, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 8, 2023 to Sep 15, 2026 (3.3 years).
QQQ vs USCL 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 3.3 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs USCL Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares Climate Conscious & Transition MSCI USA ETF (USCL) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while USCL returned +11.08%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a gain of 8.42% for USCL.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +19.08% for USCL.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 12.8% for USCL. 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 -19.0% for USCL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. 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 USCL charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $8 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.07% for USCL.
Holdings Overlap
89.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings USCL also owns. 59.4% of USCL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside USCL. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
78 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 390 in USCL, against full books of 107 and 410.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 304 positions for USCL that do not appear in our book for QQQ (39.6% of the fund), and 18 for QQQ that do not appear in USCL (8.1%).
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 USCL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 9.39% | 0.95% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 8.61% | 1.34% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 6.62% | 0.86% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 4.65% | 0.02% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 3.68% | 0.32% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 3.10% | 0.06% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 2.90% | 0.23% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 2.32% | 0.46% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 0.50% | 3.93% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.42% | 2.03% |
89.5% of QQQ is already inside USCL.
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 USCL?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while USCL charges 0.08%. USCL is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or USCL?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs +11.08% for USCL, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or USCL?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 12.8% for USCL. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs USCL -19.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and USCL?
QQQ and USCL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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 USCL?
89.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings USCL also owns. 59.4% of USCL's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 78 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 390 in USCL.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or USCL?
QQQ yields 0.44% while USCL yields 1.07%, so USCL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USCL better than QQQ?
USCL has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. USCL is less concentrated, with 44.9% 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.