BME vs QQQ
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BME or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.2%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BME | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.14% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $602M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.05% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 159 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +17.52%Best | +17.33% |
| 1Y Return | +34.88%Best | +26.50% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | +24.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.67% | +14.15%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1%Best | 18.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -44.6%Best | -53.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,175 | $19,381Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.2% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2005 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 29, 2005 to Sep 3, 2026 (21.4 years).
BME vs QQQ growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BME vs QQQ Performance
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BME returned +34.88% while QQQ returned +26.50%. Year to date, BME is up 17.52% versus a gain of 17.33% for QQQ.
Over three years, BME compounded at +12.95% per year against +24.58% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +5.67% and +14.15% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.15% annualized vs +4.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 17.1% for BME. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -44.6% for BME and -53.5% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BME charges 1.14% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $114 vs $18 annually, a gap of $96 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BME currently yields 7.05% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
15.5% of BME's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings BME also owns.
BME and QQQ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, BME as of Mar 31, 2026 and QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
8 positions in common, counted across the 138 positions we hold weights for in BME and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 159 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 88 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for BME (93.9% of the fund), and 111 for BME that do not appear in QQQ (77.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BME | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GILDGilead Sciences | 3.94% | 0.72% | 3.22% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 3.43% | 0.97% | 2.46% |
| VRTXNvaesrtex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2.68% | 0.54% | 2.14% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc. | 2.38% | 0.58% | 1.80% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 1.12% | 0.35% | 0.77% |
| IDXXIdexx Labs | 0.71% | 0.20% | 0.51% |
| DXCMDexcom Inc. | 0.68% | 0.14% | 0.54% |
| ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 0.52% | 0.13% | 0.39% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BME and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BME or QQQ?
BME has an expense ratio of 1.14% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $96 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BME or QQQ?
Over the past year BME returned +34.88% vs +26.50% for QQQ, so BME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), BME annualized +4.67% vs +15.15% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BME or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 17.1% for BME. Worst drawdown: BME -44.6% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both BME and QQQ?
BME and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BME and QQQ?
15.5% of BME's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.6% of QQQ's is in holdings BME also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 138 positions we hold weights for in BME and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BME or QQQ?
BME yields 7.05% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so BME currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BME?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.