HIX vs QQQ
Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, HIX or QQQ?
Long Term High Quality 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 | HIX | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.82% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $363M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 14.59% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 431 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +2.30% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.70% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.05% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.07% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -71.9%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,965 | $19,407Best |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term High Quality | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 22, 1998 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 4, 2026 (27.5 years).
HIX 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.
HIX vs QQQ Performance
Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (HIX) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year HIX returned +3.70% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, HIX is up 2.30% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, HIX compounded at +6.05% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -0.07% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.05% annualized vs -1.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 18.3% for HIX. 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 -71.9% for HIX and -83.0% 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 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HIX charges 3.82% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $382 vs $18 annually, a gap of $364 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HIX currently yields 14.59% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 288 holdings in HIX and 102 in QQQ, totalling 79.3% 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 278 days apart, HIX as of Oct 31, 2025 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 288 positions we hold weights for in HIX and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 431 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HIX 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, HIX or QQQ?
HIX has an expense ratio of 3.82% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $364 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HIX or QQQ?
Over the past year HIX returned +3.70% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), HIX annualized -1.87% vs +13.05% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HIX or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 18.3% for HIX. Worst drawdown: HIX -71.9% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both HIX and QQQ?
HIX and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, 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, HIX or QQQ?
HIX yields 14.59% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so HIX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than HIX?
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.