QQQ vs XJR
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares ESG Select Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XJR?
Large Cap Growth against Small Cap Blend.
XJR has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XJR is less concentrated, with 9.3% 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 | XJR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.12%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $211M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.95% |
| Holdings | 107 | 602 |
| YTD Return | +15.94%Best | +15.91% |
| 1Y Return | +20.44%Best | +17.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.86%Best | +14.65% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.26%Best | +6.68% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1%Best | 20.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -27.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,475Best | $13,817 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 9.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 22, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 24, 2020 to Sep 14, 2026 (6 years).
QQQ vs XJR 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 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs XJR Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares ESG Select Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF (XJR) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% while XJR returned +17.61%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.94% versus a gain of 15.91% for XJR.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.86% per year against +14.65% for XJR; over five years the annualized figures are +14.26% and +6.68% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.53% annualized vs +13.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XJR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 20.1% 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 -27.1% for XJR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XJR charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $12 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.95% for XJR.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 524 in XJR, totalling 99.9% and 98.9% 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 524 in XJR, against full books of 107 and 602.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 511 positions for XJR that do not appear in our book for QQQ (96.5% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in XJR (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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and XJR 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 XJR?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XJR charges 0.12%. XJR is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or XJR?
Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% vs +17.61% for XJR, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), QQQ annualized +18.53% vs +13.90% for XJR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or XJR?
XJR has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 20.1% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs XJR -27.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and XJR?
QQQ and XJR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 XJR?
QQQ yields 0.44% while XJR yields 0.95%, so XJR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XJR better than QQQ?
XJR has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XJR is less concentrated, with 9.3% 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.