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ETF Comparison

EWY vs QQQ: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF and Invesco QQQ Trust covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

  • EWYInvestors who want higher current income (1.08% vs 0.45% for QQQ).
  • QQQInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

EWY has outpaced QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 164.86% total return against 26.73%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — QQQ has compounded at 20.69% a year, ahead of EWY at 14.50%. QQQ has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 20.4% against 38.1% for EWY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince May 2000Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
EWY84.77%164.86%47.90%19.04%14.50%10.36%38.1%0.911.32-34.2%
QQQ17.54%26.73%24.63%14.18%20.69%9.17%20.4%0.861.24-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since May 2000” measures every fund from May 12, 2000 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricEWYQQQ
Full nameiShares MSCI South Korea ETFInvesco QQQ Trust
IssueriSharesInvesco
Underlying indexMSCI Korea 25/50 IndexNasdaq-100 Index
Last Close$188.87 as of September 4, 2026$718.96 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate1.08%0.45%
Distribution Safety Score™ 6397
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.68%0.44%
Expense ratio0.59%0.18%
AUM$27.2B$484B
Distribution frequencyAnnualQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the investment results of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index, providing exposure to large- and mid-capitalization Korean equities.Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date05/09/200003/10/1999
Beta2.51.26
Last dividend$2.037$0.8135
Ex-dividend date12/16/202506/22/2026

Bottom lineChoose EWY if you want higher current income (1.08% vs 0.45% for QQQ). Choose QQQ if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

Model this comparison:
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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4668B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on EWY.

See all iShares ETFs
Invesco
ETFs246
Total AUM$993B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Invesco is a major ETF provider known for offering a comprehensive lineup spanning multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company specializes in income-focused products including dividend, covered call, and bond strategies, while also maintaining broad exposure across equity, factor-based, thematic, and ESG investing themes. Invesco's portfolio ranges from index-tracking funds to alternatives and specialized offerings like digital assets and BulletShares, making it one of the more expansive ETF families available to investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QQQ.

See all Invesco ETFs

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Quick verdict

EWY (iShares MSCI South Korea ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

EWY offers the higher yield at 1.08% vs 0.45% for QQQ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

QQQ is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.18% compared to 0.59%.

They have different reference exposures: EWY is linked to MSCI Korea 25/50 Index while QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($484B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose EWY

iShares MSCI South Korea ETF

  • Want higher current income — EWY yields 1.08% vs 0.45% for QQQ.
  • Want broad equity exposure.

Choose QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust

  • Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.18% expense ratio vs 0.59% for EWY.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.3 vs 2.5 for EWY.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, EWY would generate roughly $9.00/month, while QQQ would produce $3.75/month, at current distribution rates.

EWY yield1.08%
QQQ yield0.45%
Monthly diff on $10K$5.25

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, EWY would cost approximately $590 in fees vs $180 for QQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $410.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

EWY ER0.59%
QQQ ER0.18%

Strategy & risk

EWY tracks MSCI Korea 25/50 Index with an international approach, while QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. Beta is 2.5 for EWY and 1.26 for QQQ, making QQQ the less volatile of the two by this measure.

EWY beta2.5
QQQ beta1.26

Fund details

EWY is managed by iShares (launched 05/09/2000) with $27.2B in assets. QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $484B in assets.

EWY AUM$27.2B
QQQ AUM$484B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for EWY and QQQ?

EWY currently distributes 1.08% and QQQ 0.45%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is EWY or QQQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. EWY currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between EWY and QQQ?

EWY (iShares MSCI South Korea ETF) tracks MSCI Korea 25/50 Index with an international approach, while QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. They are issued by iShares and Invesco respectively.

Can I hold both EWY and QQQ?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is EWY or QQQ safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — QQQ scores 97, EWY scores 63, so QQQ's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. QQQ has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.26 vs 2.50 for EWY). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, EWY or QQQ?

EWY has an expense ratio of 0.59% while QQQ charges 0.18%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in EWY vs QQQ generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in EWY would generate roughly $9.00 per month ($108.00 annually). The same in QQQ would produce about $3.75 per month ($45.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, EWY or QQQ?

EWY has outpaced QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 164.86% total return against 26.73%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — QQQ has compounded at 20.69% a year, ahead of EWY at 14.50%. QQQ has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 20.4% against 38.1% for EWY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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EWY vs QQQ — at a glance

Generated September 5, 2026.

Overview

EWY is an ETF tracking the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index, offering concentrated exposure to South Korea's largest and mid-sized publicly traded companies. QQQ is an ETF tracking the Nasdaq-100 Index, providing broad access to the 100 largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq, predominantly U.S. technology and growth stocks. The key distinction: EWY is a single-country bet on an emerging market, while QQQ is a developed-market large-cap growth vehicle with significant sector concentration in technology.

How they differ

The most fundamental difference is geography and market maturity. EWY isolates Korea's economy and equity market, while QQQ captures the U.S. tech-heavy Nasdaq ecosystem. EWY is far more volatile—its 2.5 beta versus 1.26 for QQQ—reflecting both emerging-market risk and concentrated sector exposure in Korea's tech, semiconductors, and financial services. QQQ is massive at $484B in assets, while EWY holds $27.2B, and QQQ's cost is just 0.18% versus 0.59% for EWY. Finally, EWY's index constraints limit holdings to the largest Korean equities (a de facto concentration play), whereas QQQ's 100-stock Nasdaq universe offers broader diversification within large-cap growth.

Who each is best for

EWY: Fits investors seeking equity exposure to South Korea's secular growth in semiconductors, consumer electronics, and financial services, with high volatility tolerance and a long time horizon to absorb currency and geopolitical swings.

QQQ: Fits investors who want diversified access to large-cap U.S. growth and technology stocks with moderate volatility, lower costs, and quarterly distributions that align with domestic equity expectations.

Key risks to know

  • Emerging-market and currency risk (EWY). Korean won fluctuations add a second layer of volatility on top of equity risk; geopolitical tension on the peninsula and North Korean risk can create sharp drawdowns unrelated to fundamentals.
  • Concentration in single country and sectors (EWY). Samsung, SK Hynix, and a handful of other conglomerates dominate Korean market cap. A downturn in semiconductors or consumer demand hits the entire fund harder than a diversified global index.
  • High beta and drawdown risk (EWY). At 2.5 beta, EWY amplifies market declines sharply during risk-off episodes; a broad emerging-market correction can trigger 20%+ losses while QQQ declines 10%.
  • Technology sector concentration (QQQ). The fund's largest holdings cluster in software, semiconductors, and e-commerce; sector-specific downturns or regulatory headwinds (antitrust, data privacy) can hit all major holdings simultaneously.
  • Valuation sensitivity (QQQ). Large-cap growth stocks reprice steeply when interest rates rise; QQQ's lack of dividend cushion means NAV erosion during rate shocks, with no current yield to offset price decline.

Bottom line

If you want emerging-market growth exposure with higher volatility and a genuine dividend, EWY is a direct Korea play; if you prioritize diversification, lower costs, and U.S. growth with moderate volatility, QQQ offers a cleaner, larger vehicle. EWY and QQQ serve entirely different allocation slots and shouldn't be compared as substitutes. Past performance does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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