HTD vs QQQ
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, HTD or QQQ?
Equity-oriented Balanced 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 | HTD | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.96% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $917M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.17% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 124 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +11.11% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.93% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.98% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.31% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 18.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -75.5% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,905 | $19,407Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2004 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 31, 2004 to Sep 4, 2026 (22.4 years).
HTD 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.
HTD vs QQQ Performance
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (HTD) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year HTD returned +10.93% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, HTD is up 11.11% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, HTD compounded at +18.98% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.31% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.47% annualized vs +2.94%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HTD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 18.3% 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 -75.5% for HTD 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HTD charges 1.96% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $196 vs $18 annually, a gap of $178 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HTD currently yields 7.17% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings HTD also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for HTD, our book for it lists positions totalling 109.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 217 days apart, HTD as of Dec 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in HTD and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 124 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HTD 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, HTD or QQQ?
HTD has an expense ratio of 1.96% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $178 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HTD or QQQ?
Over the past year HTD returned +10.93% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), HTD annualized +2.94% vs +14.47% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HTD or QQQ?
HTD has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 18.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: HTD -75.5% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both HTD and QQQ?
HTD and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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, HTD or QQQ?
HTD yields 7.17% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so HTD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than HTD?
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.