GSSC vs QQQ
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta US Small Cap Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GSSC or QQQ?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GSSC is less concentrated, with 3.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.
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 | GSSC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.00% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 2,826 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +12.51% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.47% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.80% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.56% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.5%Best | 19.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -42.5% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,740 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.7%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2017 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (9.3 years).
GSSC 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 9.3 years both funds cover.
GSSC vs QQQ Performance
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta US Small Cap Equity ETF (GSSC) is an ETF from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GSSC returned +13.47% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, GSSC is up 12.51% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, GSSC compounded at +16.80% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +6.56% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.08% annualized vs +9.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 19.5% for GSSC. 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 -42.5% for GSSC and -35.1% 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GSSC charges 0.20% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $18 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GSSC currently yields 1.00% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of GSSC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings GSSC also owns.
QQQ and GSSC share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,377 positions we hold weights for in GSSC and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 2,826 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for GSSC (94.6% of the fund), and 1,304 for GSSC that do not appear in QQQ (96.2%).
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 GSSC | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTOCostco Wholesale Corp | 0.06% | 1.69% | 1.63% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GSSC 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, GSSC or QQQ?
GSSC has an expense ratio of 0.20% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GSSC or QQQ?
Over the past year GSSC returned +13.47% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), GSSC annualized +9.12% vs +20.08% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GSSC or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 19.5% for GSSC. Worst drawdown: GSSC -42.5% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both GSSC and QQQ?
GSSC and QQQ 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.
What is the holdings overlap between GSSC and QQQ?
1.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings GSSC also owns. 1.7% of QQQ's is in holdings GSSC also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 1,377 positions we hold weights for in GSSC and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, GSSC or QQQ?
GSSC yields 1.00% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so GSSC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GSSC?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GSSC is less concentrated, with 3.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.