FPE vs QQQ
First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FPE 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 | FPE | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $6.3B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.86% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 261 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -0.17% | +17.11%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.70% | +23.99%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.96% | +24.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.35% | +14.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.4%Best | 17.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.8%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,232 | $19,449Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 11, 2013 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 12, 2013 to Sep 9, 2026 (13.6 years).
FPE 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.
FPE vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (FPE) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year FPE returned +1.70% while QQQ returned +23.99%. Year to date, FPE is down 0.17% versus a gain of 17.11% for QQQ.
Over three years, FPE compounded at +8.96% per year against +24.62% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +2.35% and +14.23% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.26% annualized vs +1.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 8.4% for FPE. 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 -34.8% for FPE 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FPE charges 0.83% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $83 vs $18 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FPE currently yields 5.86% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 203 holdings in FPE and 102 in QQQ, totalling 74.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 203 positions we hold weights for in FPE and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 261 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FPE 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, FPE or QQQ?
FPE has an expense ratio of 0.83% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FPE or QQQ?
Over the past year FPE returned +1.70% vs +23.99% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), FPE annualized +1.28% vs +19.26% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FPE or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 8.4% for FPE. Worst drawdown: FPE -34.8% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both FPE and QQQ?
FPE and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, FPE or QQQ?
FPE yields 5.86% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FPE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FPE?
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.