QQQ vs XCEM
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XCEM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
XCEM has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 5Y and the full window, XCEM over 1Y and 3Y. XCEM is less concentrated, with 34.4% 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 | XCEM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.16%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $2.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.43% |
| Holdings | 107 | 484 |
| YTD Return | +16.87% | +32.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.98% | +50.69%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98% | +25.91%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | +11.97% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9%Best | 19.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -41.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $17,600 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 34.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Columbia Threadneedle Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 1, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 2, 2015 to Sep 11, 2026 (11 years).
QQQ vs XCEM 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 11 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs XCEM Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (XCEM) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while XCEM returned +50.69%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 32.87% for XCEM.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +25.91% for XCEM; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +11.97% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.47% annualized vs +12.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XCEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% compared with 18.9% 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 -41.2% for XCEM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XCEM charges 0.16%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $16 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.43% for XCEM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 443 in XCEM, totalling 99.9% and 98.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 443 in XCEM, against full books of 107 and 484.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 5 positions for XCEM that do not appear in our book for QQQ (1.8% of the fund), and 95 for QQQ that do not appear in XCEM (97.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and XCEM 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 XCEM?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XCEM charges 0.16%. XCEM is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or XCEM?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +50.69% for XCEM, so XCEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QQQ annualized +19.47% vs +12.13% for XCEM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or XCEM?
XCEM has been the more volatile fund at 19.5% annualized versus 18.9% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs XCEM -41.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and XCEM?
QQQ and XCEM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 XCEM?
QQQ yields 0.44% while XCEM yields 2.43%, so XCEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XCEM better than QQQ?
XCEM has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 5Y and the full window, XCEM over 1Y and 3Y. XCEM is less concentrated, with 34.4% 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.