BYLD vs QQQ
iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BYLD or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
BYLD has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 94.8%.
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 | BYLD | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.13%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $447M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.41% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 13 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -0.51% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.51% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.78% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.59% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.6%Best | 18.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.9%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,821 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 94.8% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 22, 2014 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 24, 2014 to Sep 11, 2026 (12.4 years).
BYLD 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.
BYLD vs QQQ Performance
iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF (BYLD) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BYLD returned +0.51% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, BYLD is down 0.51% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, BYLD compounded at +5.78% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +1.59% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.79% annualized vs +0.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 4.6% for BYLD. 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 -15.9% for BYLD 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
BYLD charges 0.13% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $13 vs $18 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BYLD currently yields 5.41% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 13 holdings in BYLD and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 13 positions we hold weights for in BYLD and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 13 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 13 and 102 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 95 positions BYLD does not, 97.0% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.44%, AAPL 7.27%, MSFT 5.76%, AMZN 4.67%, MU 4.43%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BYLD 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, BYLD or QQQ?
BYLD has an expense ratio of 0.13% while QQQ charges 0.18%. BYLD is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BYLD or QQQ?
Over the past year BYLD returned +0.51% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), BYLD annualized +0.86% vs +18.79% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BYLD or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 4.6% for BYLD. Worst drawdown: BYLD -15.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both BYLD and QQQ?
BYLD 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, BYLD or QQQ?
BYLD yields 5.41% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so BYLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BYLD?
BYLD has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 94.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.