FLTB vs QQQ
Fidelity Limited Term Bond ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FLTB or QQQ?
Short Term 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 | FLTB | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $433M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.79% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 1,056 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +0.50% | +17.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.57% | +22.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.36% | +25.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.19% | +14.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 128.1% | 18.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.5% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,144 | $19,766Best |
| Fund Family | Fidelity Investments (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 6, 2014 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2003 to Sep 17, 2026 (22.9 years).
FLTB 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 22.9 years both funds cover.
FLTB vs QQQ Performance
Fidelity Limited Term Bond ETF (FLTB) is an ETF from Fidelity Investments (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year FLTB returned +1.57% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, FLTB is up 0.50% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Over three years, FLTB compounded at +5.36% per year against +25.27% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +2.19% and +14.60% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.31% annualized vs +7.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FLTB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 128.1% compared with 18.2% 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 -73.5% for FLTB 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 0.06. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FLTB 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, FLTB currently yields 4.79% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings FLTB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for FLTB, our book for it covers 67.7% 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 685 positions we hold weights for in FLTB and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1,056 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FLTB 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, FLTB or QQQ?
FLTB 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, FLTB or QQQ?
Over the past year FLTB returned +1.57% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), FLTB annualized +7.67% vs +14.31% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FLTB or QQQ?
FLTB has been the more volatile fund at 128.1% annualized versus 18.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: FLTB -73.5% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both FLTB and QQQ?
FLTB and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.06, 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, FLTB or QQQ?
FLTB yields 4.79% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FLTB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FLTB?
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.