FTBI vs QQQ
First Trust Balanced Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FTBI or QQQ?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 79.1%.
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 | FTBI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.98% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $24M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.65% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 32 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +5.69% | +22.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.17% | +23.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +27.53% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.67% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.5%Best | 18.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.3%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $11,750 | $14,697Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 79.1% | 47.2%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 28, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 29, 2025 to Oct 9, 2026 (1.4 years).
FTBI 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
FTBI vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Balanced Income ETF (FTBI) 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 FTBI returned +7.17% while QQQ returned +23.60%. Year to date, FTBI is up 5.69% versus a gain of 22.95% 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 18.8% compared with 6.5% for FTBI. 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 -5.3% for FTBI 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTBI charges 0.98% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $98 vs $18 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTBI currently yields 7.65% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 15 holdings in FTBI and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.8% 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 15 positions we hold weights for in FTBI and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 32 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FTBI (97.8% of the fund), and 15 for FTBI that do not appear in QQQ (99.8%).
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 FTBI 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, FTBI or QQQ?
FTBI has an expense ratio of 0.98% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTBI or QQQ?
Over the past year FTBI returned +7.17% vs +23.60% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), FTBI annualized +12.21% vs +31.66% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTBI or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 6.5% for FTBI. Worst drawdown: FTBI -5.3% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both FTBI and QQQ?
FTBI and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, FTBI or QQQ?
FTBI yields 7.65% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so FTBI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FTBI?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 79.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.