The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. QQQ is a Invesco Large Growth fund and EEM is a iShares Diversified Emerging Mkts fund. So, what’s the difference between QQQ and EEM? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of QQQ is 0.48 percentage points lower than EEM’s (0.2% vs. 0.68%). QQQ also has a higher exposure to the technology sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, QQQ has provided higher returns than EEM over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare QQQ vs. EEM. We’ll look at holdings and fund composition, as well as at their annual returns and portfolio growth. Moreover, I’ll also discuss QQQ’s and EEM’s industry exposure, risk metrics, and performance and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| QQQ | EEM | |
| NameInvesco QQQ TrustiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | ||
| Category | Large Growth | Diversified Emerging Mkts |
| Issuer | Invesco | iShares |
| AUM | 174.51B | 30.33B |
| Avg. Return | 21.27% | 5.47% |
| Div. Yield | 0.49% | 1.48% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.2% | 0.68% |
The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) is a Large Growth fund that is issued by Invesco. It currently has 174.51B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 21.27% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.49% with an expense ratio of 0.2%.
The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) is a Diversified Emerging Mkts fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 30.33B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 5.47% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.48% with an expense ratio of 0.68%.
QQQ’s dividend yield is 0.99% lower than that of EEM (0.49% vs. 1.48%). Also, QQQ yielded on average 15.80% more per year over the past decade (21.27% vs. 5.47%). The expense ratio of QQQ is 0.48 percentage points lower than EEM’s (0.2% vs. 0.68%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| QQQ | EEM | |
| Technology | 45.46% | 21.36% |
| Industrials | 2.61% | 4.61% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 5.17% |
| Communication Services | 19.55% | 11.76% |
| Utilities | 0.89% | 1.99% |
| Healthcare | 7.04% | 5.06% |
| Consumer Defensive | 4.68% | 5.45% |
| Real Estate | 0.0% | 1.98% |
| Financial Services | 2.51% | 18.39% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 17.27% | 15.16% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 9.07% |
The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 45.46%. This is followed by Communication Services and Consumer Cyclical at 19.55% and 17.27% respectively. Real Estate (0.0%), Energy (0.0%), and Utilities (0.89%) only make up 0.89% of the fund’s total assets.
QQQ’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Financial Services, Industrials, Consumer Defensive, Healthcare, and Consumer Cyclical stocks at 2.51%, 2.61%, 4.68%, 7.04%, and 17.27%.
The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 21.36%. This is followed by Financial Services and Consumer Cyclical at 18.39% and 15.16% respectively. Utilities (1.99%), Industrials (4.61%), and Healthcare (5.06%) only make up 11.66% of the fund’s total assets.
EEM’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Energy, Consumer Defensive, Basic Materials, Communication Services, and Consumer Cyclical stocks at 5.17%, 5.45%, 9.07%, 11.76%, and 15.16%.
QQQ is 24.10% more exposed to the Technology sector than EEM (45.46% vs 21.36%). QQQ’s exposure to Communication Services and Consumer Cyclical stocks is 7.79% higher and 2.11% higher respectively (19.55% vs. 11.76% and 17.27% vs. 15.16%). In total, Real Estate, Energy, and Utilities also make up 8.25% less of the fund’s holdings compared to EEM (0.89% vs. 9.14%).
Holdings
| QQQ Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 11.0% |
| Microsoft Corp | 9.82% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 8.35% |
| Facebook Inc Class A | 4.01% |
| Facebook Inc A | 4.01% |
| Alphabet Inc Class C | 3.9% |
| Tesla Inc | 3.9% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 3.65% |
| Alphabet Inc Class A | 3.53% |
| Alphabet Inc A | 3.53% |
QQQ’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc Class A, and Facebook Inc A at 11.0%, 9.82%, 8.35%, 4.01%, and 4.01%.
Alphabet Inc Class C (3.9%), Tesla Inc (3.9%), and NVIDIA Corp (3.65%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Alphabet Inc Class A and Alphabet Inc A are also represented in the QQQ’s holdings at 3.53% and 3.53%.
| EEM Holdings | Weight |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 6.36% |
| Alibaba Group Holding Ltd Ordinary Shares | 4.58% |
| Tencent Holdings Ltd | 4.41% |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 4.05% |
| Meituan | 1.24% |
| Vale SA | 1.04% |
| Naspers Ltd Class N | 1.04% |
| Reliance Industries Ltd Shs Dematerialised | 0.97% |
| Infosys Ltd | 0.92% |
| China Construction Bank Corp Class H | 0.83% |
EEM’s Top Holdings are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd Ordinary Shares, Tencent Holdings Ltd, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, and Meituan at 6.36%, 4.58%, 4.41%, 4.05%, and 1.24%.
Vale SA (1.04%), Naspers Ltd Class N (1.04%), and Reliance Industries Ltd Shs Dematerialised (0.97%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Infosys Ltd and China Construction Bank Corp Class H are also represented in the EEM’s holdings at 0.92% and 0.83%.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | QQQ | EEM |
| 2020 | 48.6% | 17.56% |
| 2019 | 39.12% | 17.67% |
| 2018 | -0.14% | -14.98% |
| 2017 | 32.7% | 36.42% |
| 2016 | 7.01% | 10.51% |
| 2015 | 9.54% | -15.41% |
| 2014 | 19.12% | -2.82% |
| 2013 | 36.6% | -3.14% |
| 2012 | 18.09% | 17.32% |
| 2011 | 3.44% | -18.87% |
| 2010 | 19.89% | 15.93% |
QQQ had its best year in 2020 with an annual return of 48.6%. QQQ’s worst year over the past decade yielded -0.14% and occurred in 2018. In most years the Invesco QQQ Trust provided moderate returns such as in 2012, 2014, and 2010 where annual returns amounted to 18.09%, 19.12%, and 19.89% respectively.
The year 2017 was the strongest year for EEM, returning 36.42% on an annual basis. The poorest year for EEM in the last ten years was 2011, with a yield of -18.87%. Most years the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2014, 2016, and 2010, when gains were -2.82%, 10.51%, and 15.93% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| QQQ | $10,000 | $76,522 | 21.27% |
| EEM | $10,000 | $15,578 | 5.47% |
A $10,000 investment in QQQ would have resulted in a final balance of $76,522. This is a profit of $66,522 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.27%.
With a $10,000 investment in EEM, the end total would have been $15,578. This equates to a $5,578 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.47%.
QQQ’s CAGR is 15.80 percentage points higher than that of EEM and as a result, would have yielded $60,944 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, QQQ outperformed EEM by 15.80% annually.
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