FFC vs QQQ
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FFC or QQQ?
Preferred Stock 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 | FFC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.23% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $826M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.20% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 252 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -1.84% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.14% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.58% | +25.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.31% | +15.24%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.9% | 18.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -84.5% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,846 | $20,324Best |
| Fund Family | Flaherty & Crumrine | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2003 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 30, 2003 to Sep 18, 2026 (23.6 years).
FFC 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.
FFC vs QQQ Performance
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated (FFC) is an ETF from Flaherty & Crumrine and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year FFC returned -1.14% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, FFC is down 1.84% versus a gain of 17.95% for QQQ.
Over three years, FFC compounded at +13.58% per year against +25.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -0.31% and +15.24% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.55% annualized vs -0.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FFC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 18.1% for QQQ. 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 -84.5% for FFC and -53.5% 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FFC charges 1.23% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $123 vs $18 annually, a gap of $105 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FFC currently yields 7.20% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 222 holdings in FFC and 102 in QQQ, totalling 81.0% 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 66 days apart, FFC as of May 31, 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 222 positions we hold weights for in FFC and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 252 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FFC 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, FFC or QQQ?
FFC has an expense ratio of 1.23% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $105 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FFC or QQQ?
Over the past year FFC returned -1.14% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), FFC annualized -0.29% vs +15.55% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FFC or QQQ?
FFC has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 18.1% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: FFC -84.5% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both FFC and QQQ?
FFC and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, FFC or QQQ?
FFC yields 7.20% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FFC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FFC?
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.