A side-by-side comparison of iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | ESGU | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +1.74%✓ | -6.51% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.30%✓ | -0.68% |
| 1-Week Change | -0.49%✓ | -1.54% |
| 1-Month Change | -3.65% | -9.55%✓ |
| Current Price | $164.12 | $674.76 |
| AUM | $17.54B | $463.98B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.15%✓ | 0.17% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.90%✓ | 0.46% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | Quarterly |
| Inception Date | 2016-12-01 | 1999-03-10 |
| Holdings Count | 267 | 101 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | US Equity | US Equity |
| Beta | 1.00 | 1.25 |
| 52-Week High | $171.09 | $762.86 |
| 52-Week Low | $136.22 | $554.41 |
| 50-Day MA | $167.51 | $720.97 |
| 200-Day MA | $159.50 | $680.89 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | ESGU | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +1.74%✓ | -6.51% |
| 1 Year | +10.73%✓ | +8.52% |
| 3 Year | +20.59% | +21.47%✓ |
| 5 Year | +10.98% | +12.48%✓ |
| 10 Year | +0.00% | +19.62%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 13.13% | 23.42% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.42 | 1.15 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 7.97% |
| 2 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 6.56% |
| 3 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 6.15% |
| 4 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 3.79% |
| 5 | GOOG | Alphabet Inc Class C | 3.02% |
| 6 | AVGO | Broadcom Inc | 2.05% |
| 7 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 1.91% |
| 8 | LLY | Eli Lilly and Company | 1.75% |
| 9 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 1.74% |
| 10 | TSLA | Tesla Inc | 1.62% |
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 8.21% |
| 2 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 7.17% |
| 3 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 6.42% |
| 4 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 4.86% |
| 5 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.96% |
| 6 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 3.68% |
| 7 | TSLA | Tesla Inc | 3.41% |
| 8 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 3.26% |
| 9 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 2.92% |
| 10 | WMT | Walmart Inc. | 2.88% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | ESGU | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 2.07% | 1.08% |
| Communication Services | 7.82% | 12.46% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 9.48% | 12.08% |
| Consumer Defensive | 4.70% | 6.82% |
| Energy | 3.65% | 0.46% |
| Financial Services | 12.17% | 0.24% |
| Healthcare | 10.87% | 5.18% |
| Industrials | 7.88% | 5.54% |
| Real Estate | 2.21% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 37.59% | 58.09% |
| Utilities | 1.83% | 1.25% |
About ESGU
The fund generally will invest at least 90% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index and may invest up to 10% of its assets in certain futures, options and swap contracts, cash and cash equivalents. The underlying index is an optimized equity index designed to reflect the equity performance of U.S. companies that have favorable environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics, while exhibiting risk and return characteristics similar to those of the MSCI USA Ind…
About QQQ
To maintain the correspondence between the composition and weights of the securities in the trust (the securities) and the stocks in the NASDAQ-100 Index®, the adviser adjusts the securities from time to time to conform to periodic changes in the identity and/or relative weights of index securities. The composition and weighting of the securities portion of a portfolio deposit are also adjusted to conform to changes in the index.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both ESGU and QQQ are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, ESGU scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ESGU and QQQ?
ESGU (iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($17.54B vs $463.98B), dividend yield (0.90% vs 0.46%), and year-to-date performance (+1.74% vs -6.51%).
Is ESGU better than QQQ?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, ESGU has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy ESGU and QQQ on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both ESGU and QQQ should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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