BMED vs QQQ
iShares Health Innovation Active ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BMED or QQQ?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. BMED led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BMED is less concentrated, with 42.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | BMED | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.24% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 61 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +14.87% | +21.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +35.16%Best | +25.89% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.80% | +28.80%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.95% | +15.67%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1%Best | 20.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -36.4% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,565 | $20,706Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.4%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 29, 2020 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 1, 2020 to Sep 25, 2026 (6 years).
BMED 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 covers the 6 years both funds cover.
BMED vs QQQ Performance
iShares Health Innovation Active ETF (BMED) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BMED returned +35.16% while QQQ returned +25.89%. Year to date, BMED is up 14.87% versus a gain of 21.71% for QQQ.
Over three years, BMED compounded at +15.80% per year against +28.80% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +2.95% and +15.67% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.24% annualized vs +5.36%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 17.1% for BMED. 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 -36.4% for BMED and -35.1% 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BMED charges 0.55% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $18 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BMED currently yields 0.24% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
16.3% of BMED's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings BMED also owns.
BMED and QQQ share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in BMED and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 61 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 91 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for BMED (95.0% of the fund), and 38 for BMED that do not appear in QQQ (71.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BMED 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, BMED or QQQ?
BMED has an expense ratio of 0.55% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BMED or QQQ?
Over the past year BMED returned +35.16% vs +25.89% for QQQ, so BMED leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BMED annualized +5.36% vs +18.24% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BMED or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 17.1% for BMED. Worst drawdown: BMED -36.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both BMED and QQQ?
BMED and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 BMED and QQQ?
16.3% of BMED's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.5% of QQQ's is in holdings BMED also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in BMED and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BMED or QQQ?
BMED yields 0.24% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BMED?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. BMED led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BMED is less concentrated, with 42.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.