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ETF Comparison

SCHG vs QQQ: A Growth Style, or 100 Nasdaq Names?

A head-to-head of Schwab's U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF and the Invesco QQQ Trust covering how each book is built, cost, and overlap.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • QQQInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.
  • SCHGInvestors 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

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

QQQ has outpaced SCHG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.84% total return against 13.73%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 21.10% a year, against 18.87% for SCHG. 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.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince Dec 2009Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QQQ22.67%24.84%28.26%16.47%21.10%19.37%20.4%1.011.46-22.8%
SCHG12.18%13.73%26.14%14.72%18.87%16.61%19.4%0.971.40-23.4%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Dec 2009” measures every fund from December 11, 2009 — the start of shared available history — 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.
MetricQQQSCHG
Full nameInvesco QQQ TrustSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF
IssuerInvescoSchwab
Underlying indexNasdaq-100 IndexDow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index
Last Close$749.58 as of October 2, 2026$36.34 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate0.40%0.41%
Trailing 12-month yield0.41%0.38%
Distribution Safety Score™ 97100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.39%0.41%
Expense ratio0.18%0.04%
AUM$501B$64.3B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveTrack the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.Seeks to track the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, holding the components ranked 1-750 by full market capitalization that are classified as growth.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date03/10/199912/11/2009
Beta1.261.22
Last dividend$0.75143 declared, pays 10/08/2026$0.037
Ex-dividend date09/21/202609/23/2026

Bottom lineQQQ and SCHG are both for investors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Cost is: SCHG charges 0.04% against 0.18% for QQQ, and between two funds this similar that gap comes straight out of your return every year you hold.

QQQ vs SCHG: Nasdaq-100 or large-cap growth?

QQQ is 100 Nasdaq names. SCHG is a large-cap growth style. Screens and concentration are the decision.

QQQSCHG
What it ownsNasdaq-100 IndexUS large-cap growth
Expense ratio0.18%0.04%
Distribution rate0.40%0.41%
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Income calculator

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

Invesco
ETFs246
Total AUM$1012B

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
Schwab
ETFs33
Total AUM$612B

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

Schwab is a major provider of low-cost, broad-based ETFs known for making investing accessible to individual investors through its discount brokerage platform. The issuer's fund lineup spans multiple categories including core index funds, dividend and income-focused strategies, factor-based approaches, international exposure, fixed income, and digital assets, with popular core holdings like SCHB (U.S. broad market) and SCHD (dividend appreciation) alongside more specialized thematic offerings. Schwab's ETF suite is characterized by its breadth across asset classes and investment styles, competitive expense ratios, and integration with its retail brokerage ecosystem.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHG.

See all Schwab ETFs

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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.

SCHG offers the higher yield at 0.41% vs 0.40% for QQQ. 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 have different reference exposures: QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index while SCHG is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($501B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, QQQ would generate roughly $10.00 cash per distribution, while SCHG would produce $10.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

QQQ yield0.40%
SCHG yield0.41%
Cash diff on $10K$0.25

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. Beta is 1.26 for QQQ and 1.22 for SCHG — effectively similar market sensitivity.

QQQ beta1.26
SCHG beta1.22

Fund details

QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $501B in assets. SCHG is managed by Schwab (launched 12/11/2009) with $64.3B in assets.

QQQ AUM$501B
SCHG AUM$64.3B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SCHG and QQQ?

SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) is a US large-cap growth style. QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) holds the Nasdaq-100. Screens and listing rules differ, even when mega-caps overlap. Cost is 0.04% versus 0.18%; distributions are 0.41% and 0.40% as of October 2026. Concentration, not a small yield gap, is the live comparison.

What is the current distribution rate for QQQ and SCHG?

QQQ currently distributes 0.40% and SCHG 0.41%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is QQQ or SCHG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SCHG 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.

Can I hold both QQQ and SCHG?

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 QQQ or SCHG safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SCHG scores 100, QQQ scores 97, so SCHG's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

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 $10.00 cash per distribution ($40.00 annually). The same in SCHG would produce about $10.25 cash per distribution ($41.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QQQ or SCHG?

QQQ has outpaced SCHG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.84% total return against 13.73%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 21.10% a year, against 18.87% for SCHG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

QQQ vs SCHG — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

QQQ and SCHG are both large-cap growth ETFs tracking distinct indexes of U.S. equities. QQQ follows the Nasdaq-100, which concentrates on the 100 largest non-financial companies traded on the Nasdaq exchange—heavily weighted toward technology. SCHG tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, which holds up to 750 companies ranked by market cap and classified as growth, offering broader diversification across the entire U.S. large-cap growth universe. The result is meaningfully different sector exposures and concentration profiles despite similar yield and broad growth mandates.

How they differ

The biggest difference is breadth: QQQ holds 100 stocks (Nasdaq-100 constituents) while SCHG can hold up to 750 (the entire large-cap growth universe). This shapes concentration—QQQ's top ten holdings drive portfolio behavior in a way that SCHG's more diffuse lineup does not. Second, QQQ's Nasdaq tilt means technology and semiconductor dominance; SCHG's methodology captures growth characteristics across sectors (healthcare, industrials, discretionary, financials) wherever they appear in the large-cap universe. Third, the fee advantage belongs to SCHG at 0.04% versus 0.18% for QQQ, a 0.14% percentage-point spread that compounds over decades. Both yield roughly 0.40% annually and pay quarterly. QQQ is far larger by assets at $501B versus $64.3B, though SCHG's smaller base remains substantial. QQQ's beta of 1.26 slightly exceeds SCHG's 1.22, suggesting modestly higher systematic volatility.

Who each is best for

  • QQQ: Fits investors comfortable with concentrated exposure to the largest mega-cap technology and internet companies who view that sector as a core long-term holding and can tolerate higher single-sector risk.
  • SCHG: Fits investors seeking large-cap growth exposure across the full market spectrum—including industrial and healthcare growth—with a preference for lower fees and reduced dependence on Nasdaq mega-cap concentration.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration in mega-cap technology. QQQ's top-ten holdings represent a meaningful portion of the portfolio, and nearly all are in tech and related sectors. A decline in Nasdaq-100 valuations or a sector rotation out of mega-cap software and semiconductors would pressure QQQ disproportionately.
  • Nasdaq index methodology risk. QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 constituents, which exclude financial companies by design. This structural exclusion means no exposure to large-cap banks and insurance firms, a meaningful gap in any market-cap-weighted U.S. equity comparison.
  • Valuation sensitivity. Both funds hold growth stocks priced on earnings expectations. Rising interest rates or a shift in growth-to-value preference could suppress returns for both, though QQQ's higher beta of 1.26 versus 1.22 suggests it would amplify that downside.
  • Sector overlap with correlated moves. While SCHG is more diversified than QQQ, both hold large-cap growth leaders, and their holdings will overlap substantially. A broad large-cap growth sell-off affects both simultaneously.

Bottom line

If you want maximum exposure to the largest Nasdaq-traded technology leaders and can accept concentrated risk, QQQ's vast AUM and Nasdaq-100 focus deliver that directly. If you prefer to capture large-cap growth across the full market with lower fees and less Nasdaq concentration, SCHG's 0.04% expense ratio and broader Dow Jones index design fit that profile. The 0.14% fee gap matters most to buy-and-hold investors with long time horizons. 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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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.