QQQ vs WSML
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares MSCI World Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, QQQ or WSML?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y 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 | WSML |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.30% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $665M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.82% |
| Holdings | 107 | 3,540 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | +13.84% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63%Best | +19.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.9% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0% | -10.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $15,632Best | $14,732 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 3, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.4 years).
QQQ vs WSML 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs WSML Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares MSCI World Small-Cap ETF (WSML) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while WSML returned +19.61%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a gain of 13.84% for WSML.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 13.1% for WSML. 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -10.7% for WSML. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while WSML charges 0.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $30 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.82% for WSML.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings WSML also owns.
Stated as a floor: for WSML, our book for it covers 67.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
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 1,556 in WSML, against full books of 107 and 3,540.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in WSML | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 0.88% | 2.31% | 1.43% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and WSML 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 WSML?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while WSML charges 0.30%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or WSML?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs +19.61% for WSML, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +37.59% vs +31.88% for WSML. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or WSML?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 13.1% for WSML. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs WSML -10.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and WSML?
QQQ and WSML have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 WSML?
QQQ yields 0.44% while WSML yields 2.82%, so WSML currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WSML better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.