DTF vs QQQ
DTF Tax-Free Income 2028 Term Fund Inc vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, DTF or QQQ?
Municipal Bond 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 | DTF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.27% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $84M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.26% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 82 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +2.13% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.69% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.23% | +25.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.65% | +15.24%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.5%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -47.0%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,202 | $20,324Best |
| Fund Family | Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 29, 1991 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 18, 2026 (27.5 years).
DTF 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.
DTF vs QQQ Performance
DTF Tax-Free Income 2028 Term Fund Inc (DTF) is an ETF from Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year DTF returned +3.69% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, DTF is up 2.13% versus a gain of 17.95% for QQQ.
Over three years, DTF compounded at +5.23% per year against +25.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -1.65% and +15.24% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs -0.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 10.5% for DTF. 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 -47.0% for DTF and -83.0% 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 0.10. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DTF charges 2.27% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $227 vs $18 annually, a gap of $209 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DTF currently yields 3.26% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 24 holdings in DTF and 102 in QQQ, totalling 31.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 187 days apart, DTF as of Jan 30, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in DTF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 82 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DTF 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, DTF or QQQ?
DTF has an expense ratio of 2.27% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $209 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DTF or QQQ?
Over the past year DTF returned +3.69% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), DTF annualized -0.73% vs +13.04% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DTF or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 10.5% for DTF. Worst drawdown: DTF -47.0% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both DTF and QQQ?
DTF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.10, 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, DTF or QQQ?
DTF yields 3.26% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so DTF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than DTF?
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.