QQQ vs WCME
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs First Trust WCM Developing World Equity ETF
Which is better, QQQ or WCME?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.0%.
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 | WCME |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $37M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.35% |
| Holdings | 107 | 43 |
| YTD Return | +21.71%Best | +10.36% |
| 1Y Return | +25.89%Best | +14.65% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.80% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.67% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 17.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -15.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $15,703Best | $13,687 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 48.0% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 7, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 7, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026 (2 years).
QQQ vs WCME 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 2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs WCME Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and First Trust WCM Developing World Equity ETF (WCME) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% while WCME returned +14.65%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.71% versus a gain of 10.36% for WCME.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 17.1% for WCME. 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 -15.6% for WCME. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while WCME charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $95 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.35% for WCME.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings WCME also owns. 1.4% of WCME's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
WCME and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 36 in WCME, against full books of 107 and 43.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for WCME that do not appear in our book for QQQ (7.1% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in WCME (97.5%).
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 WCME | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc. | 0.27% | 1.38% | 1.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and WCME 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 WCME?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while WCME charges 0.95%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or WCME?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.89% vs +14.65% for WCME, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +25.31% vs +16.99% for WCME. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or WCME?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 17.1% for WCME. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs WCME -15.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and WCME?
QQQ and WCME have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 WCME?
1.4% of WCME's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.4% of WCME's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 36 in WCME.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or WCME?
QQQ yields 0.44% while WCME yields 0.35%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WCME better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.