CMBS vs QQQ
iShares CMBS ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CMBS or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | CMBS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $468M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.62% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 466 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -0.18% | +15.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.14% | +22.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.42% | +24.15%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.60% | +14.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.9%Best | 17.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.4%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,304 | $19,390Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 14, 2012 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 16, 2012 to Sep 10, 2026 (14.6 years).
CMBS 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.
CMBS vs QQQ Performance
iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) 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 CMBS returned +1.14% while QQQ returned +22.63%. Year to date, CMBS is down 0.18% versus a gain of 15.86% for QQQ.
Over three years, CMBS compounded at +5.42% per year against +24.15% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +0.60% and +14.16% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.26% annualized vs +0.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 3.9% for CMBS. 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 -16.4% for CMBS 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 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CMBS charges 0.25% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $18 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CMBS currently yields 3.62% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 424 holdings in CMBS and 102 in QQQ, totalling 88.9% 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 424 positions we hold weights for in CMBS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 466 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CMBS 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, CMBS or QQQ?
CMBS has an expense ratio of 0.25% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CMBS or QQQ?
Over the past year CMBS returned +1.14% vs +22.63% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), CMBS annualized +0.80% vs +18.26% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CMBS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 3.9% for CMBS. Worst drawdown: CMBS -16.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both CMBS and QQQ?
CMBS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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, CMBS or QQQ?
CMBS yields 3.62% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so CMBS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CMBS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.