ISD vs QQQ

ISD vs QQQ

Which is better, ISD or QQQ?

High Yield Bond against Large Cap Growth.

QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Higher Returns: QQQ

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

MetricISDQQQ
Expense Ratio-0.18%
AUM$468M$483.5B
Dividend Yield9.31%0.44%
Holdings780107
YTD Return-12.31%+15.18%Best
1Y Return-10.71%+19.65%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+9.33%+24.60%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+3.01%+13.94%Best
Volatility (annualized)12.2%Best17.5%
Max Drawdown-54.3%-35.1%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$11,598$19,204Best
Fund FamilyPGIM InvestmentsInvesco (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleHigh Yield BondLarge Cap Growth
InceptionApr 26, 2012Mar 10, 1999

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2012 to Sep 15, 2026 (14.4 years).

ISD 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.

ISD vs QQQ Performance

PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc (ISD) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year ISD returned -10.71% while QQQ returned +19.65%. Year to date, ISD is down 12.31% versus a gain of 15.18% for QQQ.

Over three years, ISD compounded at +9.33% per year against +24.60% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.01% and +13.94% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.05% annualized vs +0.06%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 12.2% for ISD. 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 -54.3% for ISD 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 609 holdings in ISD and 102 in QQQ, totalling 81.3% 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 187 days apart, ISD as of Jan 30, 2026 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 609 positions we hold weights for in ISD and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 780 and 107.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of ISD and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

ISDQQQ

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which performed better, ISD or QQQ?

Over the past year ISD returned -10.71% vs +19.65% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), ISD annualized +0.06% vs +18.05% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, ISD or QQQ?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 12.2% for ISD. Worst drawdown: ISD -54.3% vs QQQ -35.1%.

Should I hold both ISD and QQQ?

ISD and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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, ISD or QQQ?

ISD yields 9.31% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so ISD currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is QQQ better than ISD?

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.