The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and the Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. QQQ is a Invesco Large Growth fund and SCHF is a Schwab ETFs Foreign Large Blend fund. So, what’s the difference between QQQ and SCHF? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of QQQ is 0.14 percentage points higher than SCHF’s (0.2% vs. 0.06%). QQQ also has a higher exposure to the technology sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, QQQ has provided higher returns than SCHF over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare QQQ vs. SCHF. We’ll look at holdings and portfolio growth, as well as at their fund composition and industry exposure. Moreover, I’ll also discuss QQQ’s and SCHF’s performance, risk metrics, and annual returns and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| QQQ | SCHF | |
| NameInvesco QQQ TrustSchwab International Equity ETF | ||
| Category | Large Growth | Foreign Large Blend |
| Issuer | Invesco | Schwab ETFs |
| AUM | 174.51B | 26.99B |
| Avg. Return | 21.27% | 6.43% |
| Div. Yield | 0.49% | 2.16% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.2% | 0.06% |
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 Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) is a Foreign Large Blend fund that is issued by Schwab ETFs. It currently has 26.99B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 6.43% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 2.16% with an expense ratio of 0.06%.
QQQ’s dividend yield is 1.67% lower than that of SCHF (0.49% vs. 2.16%). Also, QQQ yielded on average 14.84% more per year over the past decade (21.27% vs. 6.43%). The expense ratio of QQQ is 0.14 percentage points higher than SCHF’s (0.2% vs. 0.06%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| QQQ | SCHF | |
| Technology | 45.46% | 11.55% |
| Industrials | 2.61% | 14.86% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 4.23% |
| Communication Services | 19.55% | 5.65% |
| Utilities | 0.89% | 3.09% |
| Healthcare | 7.04% | 11.05% |
| Consumer Defensive | 4.68% | 9.41% |
| Real Estate | 0.0% | 3.17% |
| Financial Services | 2.51% | 17.85% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 17.27% | 10.87% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 8.26% |
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 Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 17.85%. This is followed by Industrials and Technology at 14.86% and 11.55% respectively. Real Estate (3.17%), Energy (4.23%), and Communication Services (5.65%) only make up 13.05% of the fund’s total assets.
SCHF’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Basic Materials, Consumer Defensive, Consumer Cyclical, Healthcare, and Technology stocks at 8.26%, 9.41%, 10.87%, 11.05%, and 11.55%.
QQQ is 33.91% more exposed to the Technology sector than SCHF (45.46% vs 11.55%). QQQ’s exposure to Communication Services and Consumer Cyclical stocks is 13.90% higher and 6.40% higher respectively (19.55% vs. 5.65% and 17.27% vs. 10.87%). In total, Real Estate, Energy, and Utilities also make up 9.60% less of the fund’s holdings compared to SCHF (0.89% vs. 10.49%).
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%.
| SCHF Holdings | Weight |
| Nestle SA | 1.66% |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 1.6% |
| ASML Holding NV | 1.29% |
| Roche Holding AG | 1.24% |
| Toyota Motor Corp | 1.02% |
| LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE | 0.93% |
| Novartis AG | 0.92% |
| Shopify Inc A | 0.78% |
| AstraZeneca PLC | 0.75% |
| SAP SE | 0.74% |
SCHF’s Top Holdings are Nestle SA, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, ASML Holding NV, Roche Holding AG, and Toyota Motor Corp at 1.66%, 1.6%, 1.29%, 1.24%, and 1.02%.
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (0.93%), Novartis AG (0.92%), and Shopify Inc A (0.78%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. AstraZeneca PLC and SAP SE are also represented in the SCHF’s holdings at 0.75% and 0.74%.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | QQQ | SCHF |
| 2020 | 48.6% | 9.86% |
| 2019 | 39.12% | 22.15% |
| 2018 | -0.14% | -14.39% |
| 2017 | 32.7% | 25.83% |
| 2016 | 7.01% | 2.88% |
| 2015 | 9.54% | -2.44% |
| 2014 | 19.12% | -4.44% |
| 2013 | 36.6% | 20.03% |
| 2012 | 18.09% | 17.12% |
| 2011 | 3.44% | -12.32% |
| 2010 | 19.89% | 8.6% |
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 SCHF, returning 25.83% on an annual basis. The poorest year for SCHF in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -14.39%. Most years the Schwab International Equity ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2016, 2010, and 2020, when gains were 2.88%, 8.6%, and 9.86% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| QQQ | $10,000 | $63,827 | 21.27% |
| SCHF | $10,000 | $17,089 | 6.43% |
A $10,000 investment in QQQ would have resulted in a final balance of $63,827. This is a profit of $53,827 over 10 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.27%.
With a $10,000 investment in SCHF, the end total would have been $17,089. This equates to a $7,089 profit over 10 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.43%.
QQQ’s CAGR is 14.84 percentage points higher than that of SCHF and as a result, would have yielded $46,738 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, QQQ outperformed SCHF by 14.84% annually.
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