QQQ vs WSML
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares MSCI World Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, QQQ or WSML?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. WSML is less concentrated, with 2.3% 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 | WSML |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.30% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $660M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 2.76% |
| Holdings | 321 | 3,540 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +10.32% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +13.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0% | -10.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $16,130Best | $14,319 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7% | 2.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 3, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.5 years).
QQQ vs WSML 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs WSML Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares MSCI World Small-Cap ETF (WSML) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while WSML returned +13.73%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 10.32% for WSML.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 13.6% for WSML. 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -10.7% for WSML. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while WSML charges 0.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $30 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 2.76% for WSML.
Holdings Overlap
0.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings WSML also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 3,564 in WSML, against full books of 321 and 3,540.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,540 positions for WSML that do not appear in our book for QQQ (59.9% of the fund), and 92 for QQQ that do not appear in WSML (95.5%).
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 QQQ | Weight in WSML | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GILDGilead Sciences Inc | 0.77% | 0.00% | 0.77% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and WSML 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 WSML?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while WSML charges 0.30%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or WSML?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +13.73% for WSML, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +37.54% vs +27.04% for WSML. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or WSML?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 13.6% for WSML. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs WSML -10.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and WSML?
QQQ and WSML have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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 WSML?
QQQ yields 0.42% while WSML yields 2.76%, so WSML currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WSML better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. WSML is less concentrated, with 2.3% 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.