PSCU vs QQQ
Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Services ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PSCU 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. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 53.0%.
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 | PSCU | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.85% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 74 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +3.85% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.45% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.40% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.14% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Best | 17.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -30.4%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,443 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 53.0% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 7, 2010 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 7, 2010 to Oct 14, 2026 (16.5 years).
PSCU 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 16.5 years both funds cover.
PSCU vs QQQ Performance
Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Services ETF (PSCU) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PSCU returned +3.45% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, PSCU is up 3.85% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, PSCU compounded at +7.40% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -1.14% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.05% annualized vs +5.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 15.3% for PSCU. 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 -30.4% for PSCU 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSCU charges 0.29% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $18 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSCU currently yields 0.85% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 34 holdings in PSCU and 101 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 34 positions we hold weights for in PSCU and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 74 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PSCU (96.3% of the fund), and 34 for PSCU that do not appear in QQQ (100.0%).
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 PSCU 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, PSCU or QQQ?
PSCU has an expense ratio of 0.29% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSCU or QQQ?
Over the past year PSCU returned +3.45% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), PSCU annualized +5.82% vs +18.05% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSCU or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 15.3% for PSCU. Worst drawdown: PSCU -30.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PSCU and QQQ?
PSCU and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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, PSCU or QQQ?
PSCU yields 0.85% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so PSCU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PSCU?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 53.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.