EPMB vs QQQ
Harbor Mid Cap Core ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, EPMB or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. EPMB is less concentrated, with 26.6% 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 | EPMB | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.88% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.57% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 60 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +14.43% | +17.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.58% | +26.50%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.15% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1%Best | 19.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $13,454 | $14,603Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.6%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 1, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 2, 2025 to Sep 3, 2026 (1.3 years).
EPMB 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
EPMB vs QQQ Performance
Harbor Mid Cap Core ETF (EPMB) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year EPMB returned +23.58% while QQQ returned +26.50%. Year to date, EPMB is up 14.43% versus a gain of 17.33% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 12.1% for EPMB. 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 -8.9% for EPMB and -12.0% 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPMB charges 0.88% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $88 vs $18 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPMB currently yields 1.57% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
7.8% of EPMB's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings EPMB also owns.
EPMB and QQQ share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in EPMB and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 60 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for EPMB (94.6% of the fund), and 53 for EPMB that do not appear in QQQ (86.1%).
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 EPMB 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, EPMB or QQQ?
EPMB has an expense ratio of 0.88% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPMB or QQQ?
Over the past year EPMB returned +23.58% vs +26.50% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EPMB annualized +25.64% vs +33.81% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPMB or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 12.1% for EPMB. Worst drawdown: EPMB -8.9% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both EPMB and QQQ?
EPMB and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 EPMB and QQQ?
7.8% of EPMB's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.0% of QQQ's is in holdings EPMB also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in EPMB and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, EPMB or QQQ?
EPMB yields 1.57% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so EPMB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than EPMB?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. EPMB is less concentrated, with 26.6% 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.