CORP vs QQQ
Pimco Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Exchange-Traded Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CORP or QQQ?
Long Term Mid Quality against Large Cap Growth.
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 | CORP | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.41% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.54% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 1,470 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -2.21% | +21.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.13% | +25.89%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.35% | +28.80%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.09% | +15.67%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.1%Best | 17.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -21.5%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,955 | $20,706Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Mid Quality | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2010 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2010 to Sep 25, 2026 (16 years).
CORP 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.
CORP vs QQQ Performance
Pimco Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Exchange-Traded Fund (CORP) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year CORP returned -1.13% while QQQ returned +25.89%. Year to date, CORP is down 2.21% versus a gain of 21.71% for QQQ.
Over three years, CORP compounded at +5.35% per year against +28.80% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -0.09% and +15.67% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.79% annualized vs +0.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 6.1% for CORP. 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 -21.5% for CORP 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CORP charges 0.41% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $41 vs $18 annually, a gap of $23 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CORP currently yields 4.54% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings CORP also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CORP, our book for it covers 80.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,137 positions we hold weights for in CORP and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1,470 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CORP | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Us Inc Com Usd0.00001 | 0.02% | 0.82% | 0.80% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CORP 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, CORP or QQQ?
CORP has an expense ratio of 0.41% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $23 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CORP or QQQ?
Over the past year CORP returned -1.13% vs +25.89% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), CORP annualized +0.92% vs +18.79% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CORP or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 6.1% for CORP. Worst drawdown: CORP -21.5% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both CORP and QQQ?
CORP and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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, CORP or QQQ?
CORP yields 4.54% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so CORP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CORP?
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.