QQQ vs XEML
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Xtrackers Europe Market Leaders ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XEML?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. XEML is less concentrated, with 45.7% 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 | XEML |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 1.77% |
| Holdings | 321 | 88 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | -4.33% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7% | 45.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Xtrackers ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 23, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
QQQ vs XEML 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs XEML Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Xtrackers Europe Market Leaders ETF (XEML) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a loss of 4.33% for XEML.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XEML charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $35 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 1.77% for XEML.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings XEML also owns. 4.0% of XEML's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
XEML and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 41 in XEML, against full books of 321 and 88.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for XEML that do not appear in our book for QQQ (2.1% of the fund), and 93 for QQQ that do not appear in XEML (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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in XEML | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASASML HOLDING NV | 0.71% | 3.99% | 3.28% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and XEML 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 XEML?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XEML charges 0.35%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and XEML?
4.0% of XEML's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 4.0% of XEML's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 41 in XEML.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or XEML?
QQQ yields 0.42% while XEML yields 1.77%, so XEML currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XEML better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. XEML is less concentrated, with 45.7% 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.