FGSM vs QQQ
Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FGSM or QQQ?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
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 | FGSM | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.82% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $47M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.43% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 14 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +12.35% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.44% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +26.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.42% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2%Best | 19.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.7%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $13,747 | $14,154Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | Frontier Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 19, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 20, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.8 years).
FGSM vs QQQ 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
FGSM vs QQQ Performance
Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF (FGSM) is an ETF from Frontier Asset Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year FGSM returned +17.44% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, FGSM is up 12.35% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 12.2% for FGSM. 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 -17.7% for FGSM and -22.8% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FGSM charges 0.82% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $82 vs $18 annually, a gap of $64 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FGSM currently yields 4.43% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 6 holdings in FGSM and 101 in QQQ, totalling 99.8% and 99.6% 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 6 positions we hold weights for in FGSM and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 14 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FGSM (96.3% of the fund), and 6 for FGSM that do not appear in QQQ (99.8%).
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 FGSM and QQQ 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, FGSM or QQQ?
FGSM has an expense ratio of 0.82% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $64 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FGSM or QQQ?
Over the past year FGSM returned +17.44% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FGSM annualized +19.34% vs +21.29% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FGSM or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 12.2% for FGSM. Worst drawdown: FGSM -17.7% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both FGSM and QQQ?
FGSM and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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, FGSM or QQQ?
FGSM yields 4.43% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so FGSM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FGSM?
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.