NSCR vs QQQ
Nuveen Sustainable Core ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, NSCR or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. NSCR is less concentrated, with 41.6% 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 | NSCR | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $6M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.07% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 56 | 321 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -20.8%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $10,682 | $13,610Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.6%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 5, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 191 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. NSCR has data through Apr 6, 2026 and QQQ through Oct 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 6, 2024 to Apr 6, 2026 (2.1 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NSCR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 14.0% 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 -20.8% for NSCR 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 0.29. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NSCR charges 0.45% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $18 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NSCR currently yields 2.07% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
47.1% of NSCR's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 50.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings NSCR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 274 days apart, NSCR as of Dec 31, 2025 and QQQ as of Oct 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
19 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in NSCR and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 56 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 74 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for NSCR (46.0% of the fund), and 36 for NSCR that do not appear in QQQ (47.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NSCR | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.48% | 7.35% | 0.87% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.03% | 8.33% | 3.30% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 7.19% | 5.76% | 1.43% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.29% | 4.07% | 0.22% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.28% | 3.05% | 0.23% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.60% | 3.26% | 0.66% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.31% | 2.53% | 0.78% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.19% | 4.17% | 2.98% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.01% | 2.82% | 0.81% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.06% | 1.77% | 0.29% |
50.3% of QQQ is already inside NSCR.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NSCR or QQQ?
NSCR has an expense ratio of 0.45% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, NSCR or QQQ?
NSCR has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 14.0% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: NSCR -20.8% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both NSCR and QQQ?
NSCR and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.29, 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 NSCR and QQQ?
50.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings NSCR also owns. 50.3% of QQQ's is in holdings NSCR also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in NSCR and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, NSCR or QQQ?
NSCR yields 2.07% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so NSCR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than NSCR?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. NSCR is less concentrated, with 41.6% 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.