QQQ vs SMIG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Bahl & Gaynor Small/Mid Cap Income Growth ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SMIG?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SMIG is less concentrated, with 41.5% 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 | QQQ | SMIG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.60% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $1.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 1.91% |
| Holdings | 321 | 85 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +8.83% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +8.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18%Best | +13.17% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42%Best | +6.74% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.8% | 16.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -19.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484Best | $13,856 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Aug 25, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 26, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5.1 years).
QQQ vs SMIG 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 5.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SMIG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Bahl & Gaynor Small/Mid Cap Income Growth ETF (SMIG) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc.. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while SMIG returned +8.78%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 8.83% for SMIG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +13.17% for SMIG; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and +6.74% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.8% compared with 16.2% for SMIG. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -19.6% for SMIG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SMIG charges 0.60%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $60 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 1.91% for SMIG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 39 in SMIG, totalling 99.6% and 99.9% 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 39 in SMIG, against full books of 321 and 85.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 38 positions for SMIG that do not appear in our book for QQQ (96.7% of the fund), and 93 for QQQ that do not appear in SMIG (96.3%).
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 QQQ and SMIG 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 SMIG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SMIG charges 0.60%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SMIG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +8.78% for SMIG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SMIG?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.8% annualized versus 16.2% for SMIG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SMIG -19.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SMIG?
QQQ and SMIG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 SMIG?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SMIG yields 1.91%, so SMIG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMIG better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SMIG is less concentrated, with 41.5% 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.