QQQ vs SMBS
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Schwab Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SMBS?
Large Cap Growth against Intermediate Term Bond.
SMBS 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 | QQQ | SMBS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $506.1B | $6.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 5.42% |
| Holdings | 321 | 4,330 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | -2.06% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | -1.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 4.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -5.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $14,625Best | $10,519 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Intermediate Term Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Nov 19, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.9 years).
QQQ vs SMBS 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SMBS Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Schwab Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (SMBS) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while SMBS returned -1.51%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a loss of 2.06% for SMBS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 4.4% for SMBS. 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -5.2% for SMBS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.05. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SMBS charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 5.42% for SMBS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 95 in SMBS, totalling 99.6% and 0.9% 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 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 95 in SMBS, against full books of 321 and 4,330.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SMBS 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 SMBS?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SMBS charges 0.03%. SMBS is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SMBS?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs -1.51% for SMBS, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +22.15% vs +2.70% for SMBS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SMBS?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 4.4% for SMBS. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SMBS -5.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SMBS?
QQQ and SMBS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.05, 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 SMBS?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SMBS yields 5.42%, so SMBS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMBS better than QQQ?
SMBS 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.