ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Invesco QQQ Trust and Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 4, 2026

Invesco

ETFs255

Total AUM$971B

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

Invesco is a major player in the ETF space known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of 71 funds spanning multiple investment themes and strategies. Their portfolio spans income-focused funds, factor-based equity strategies, commodity exposure, digital assets, ESG investing, and the popular Invesco QQQ family tracking the Nasdaq-100, serving both income-seeking and growth-oriented investors. The issuer is particularly recognized for specialized offerings like BulletShares (laddered bond funds), sector rotation strategies, and thematic investing options, making it a comprehensive choice for investors seeking varied exposures beyond traditional index funds.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QQQ.

See all Invesco ETFs

Schwab

ETFs34

Total AUM$574B

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

Schwab is known for offering low-cost, broad-based ETFs that serve both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies. Their 33-fund lineup spans multiple asset classes including bonds, equities, international markets, digital assets, and factor-based strategies, with a notable emphasis on dividend-focused funds like SCHD alongside core index options. The issuer emphasizes accessibility for individual investors through competitive expense ratios and a diverse range of fund families designed to support various investment objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHG.

See all Schwab ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	QQQ	SCHG
Full name	Invesco QQQ Trust	Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF
Issuer	Invesco	Schwab
Last Close	$712.60 as of July 4, 2026	$34.12 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield	0.45%	0.40%
Distribution Safety Score	95	100
Expense ratio	0.18%	0.04%
AUM	$481B	$58.4B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	Nasdaq-100 Index	Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index
Objective	Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.	Capital Appreciation
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	03/10/1999	12/11/2009
Beta	1.23	1.19
Last dividend	$0.7941	$0.0340
Ex-dividend date	12/21/2026	06/24/2026

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

QQQ has outpaced SCHG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 30.76% total return against 18.35%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 21.60% a year, against 18.68% for SCHG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Dec 2009	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
QQQ	16.37%	30.76%	25.08%	15.64%	21.60%	19.32%	20.2%	0.89	1.27	-22.8%
SCHG	5.11%	18.35%	22.62%	13.75%	18.68%	16.43%	19.4%	0.82	1.17	-23.4%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Dec 2009” measures every fund from December 11, 2009 — 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.

Quick verdict

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) and SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

QQQ offers the higher yield at 0.45% vs 0.40% for SCHG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SCHG is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.04% compared to 0.18%.

They track different benchmarks: QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index while SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($481B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, QQQ would generate roughly $3.75/month, while SCHG would produce $3.33/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

QQQ yield0.45%

SCHG yield0.40%

Monthly diff on $10K$0.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQ would cost approximately $180 in fees vs $40 for SCHG (simplified, not compounded). The $140.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QQQ ER0.18%

SCHG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach, while SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index with a capital appreciation approach. Beta is 1.23 for QQQ and 1.19 for SCHG, indicating SCHG is less volatile relative to the market.

QQQ beta1.23

SCHG beta1.19

Fund details

QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $481B in assets. SCHG is managed by Schwab (launched 12/11/2009) with $58.4B in assets.

QQQ AUM$481B

SCHG AUM$58.4B

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Frequently asked questions

Is QQQ or SCHG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. QQQ 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 QQQ and SCHG?

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach, while SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index with a capital appreciation approach. They are issued by Invesco and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both QQQ and SCHG?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

Which has lower fees, QQQ or SCHG?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SCHG charges 0.04%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in QQQ would generate roughly $3.75 per month ($45.00 annually). The same in SCHG would produce about $3.33 per month ($40.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QQQ or SCHG?

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QQQ vs SCHG — at a glance

Generated June 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

QQQ and SCHG are both large-cap growth ETFs tracking U.S. equity indexes, but they operate from fundamentally different universes. QQQ holds 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks—a technology-tilted subset that excludes banks and insurance companies. SCHG tracks the broader Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth index, which pulls from the full market and includes all sectors. The result is meaningfully different sector exposure and concentration profiles, despite both pursuing index-linked capital appreciation.

How they differ

The biggest structural difference is QQQ's Nasdaq-only, ex-financial mandate versus SCHG's broad-market approach. This makes QQQ far more technology-heavy and concentrated; the Nasdaq-100 naturally skews toward mega-cap tech names that dominate the index. SCHG's larger universe allows it to hold more diversified growth names across sectors including healthcare, consumer, and industrials.

On fees, SCHG wins decisively: a 0.04% expense ratio versus QQQ's 0.18%. Over decades, that 0.14 percentage-point gap compounds meaningfully. Both offer modest distributions (QQQ at 0.44%, SCHG at 0.42%), which is typical for growth funds focused on capital appreciation rather than income. QQQ's $481B in assets dwarfs SCHG's $58.4B, giving QQQ tighter spreads and deeper liquidity, though SCHG's scale is substantial. Beta tells the story of concentration: QQQ's 1.23 beta runs higher than SCHG's 1.19, reflecting its amplified sensitivity to growth-stock swings.

Who each is best for

QQQ: Fits investors seeking pure Nasdaq-100 exposure who are comfortable with technology concentration and higher market sensitivity, and who value uncompromising liquidity and tight trading costs.

SCHG: Designed for growth-focused allocators who prefer a broader large-cap growth universe with reduced single-sector tilt and meaningful fee efficiency over extremely deep liquidity.

Key risks to know

Nasdaq concentration and sector risk. QQQ's 100-stock mandate and non-financial exclusion create heavy exposure to technology, communications, and consumer discretionary names. A sharp correction in mega-cap tech directly hits QQQ harder than SCHG, which spreads risk across a wider growth universe.

Fee compounding over time. SCHG's 0.04% expense ratio versus QQQ's 0.18% translates to roughly 14 basis points of annual drag. Over a 20-year horizon, this difference alone can erode total return by 3% or more in a flat-market scenario; in positive markets, it compounds into meaningfully higher net performance for SCHG.

Growth-style cyclicality. Both funds are pure growth vehicles with elevated betas relative to the broad market. In periods when value outperforms growth—such as rising-rate environments—both will lag the overall market, though the effect is more pronounced in QQQ due to its higher beta and tech concentration.

Liquidity premium in QQQ. While QQQ's massive AUM ensures deep liquidity, investors may overpay for that tightness if they trade infrequently or deploy capital gradually; SCHG's liquidity is more than adequate for most allocators at a significant fee discount.

Bottom line

If you prioritize technology-specific exposure and demand maximum liquidity and minimal spreads, QQQ delivers a Nasdaq-pure vehicle. If you want growth exposure with broader diversification and meaningful fee savings, SCHG's 14-basis-point cost advantage and fuller index universe make a compelling case over a long holding period. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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