JHS vs QQQ
John Hancock Income Securities Trust vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, JHS 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 | JHS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.66% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $144M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.16% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 881 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -3.93% | +17.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.42% | +26.50%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.82% | +24.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.39% | +14.15%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -47.8%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,861 | $19,381Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term High Quality | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 14, 1973 | 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 3, 2026 (27.5 years).
JHS 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.
JHS vs QQQ Performance
John Hancock Income Securities Trust (JHS) 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 JHS returned -0.42% while QQQ returned +26.50%. Year to date, JHS is down 3.93% versus a gain of 17.33% for QQQ.
Over three years, JHS compounded at +5.82% per year against +24.58% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -2.39% and +14.15% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs -0.24%.
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 10.7% for JHS. 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 -47.8% for JHS 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 0.13. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JHS charges 1.66% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $166 vs $18 annually, a gap of $148 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JHS currently yields 5.16% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings JHS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for JHS, our book for it covers 87.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 186 days apart, JHS as of Jan 31, 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 518 positions we hold weights for in JHS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 881 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in JHS | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Us Inc Com Usd0.00001 | 0.47% | 0.82% | 0.35% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JHS 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, JHS or QQQ?
JHS has an expense ratio of 1.66% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $148 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JHS or QQQ?
Over the past year JHS returned -0.42% vs +26.50% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), JHS annualized -0.24% vs +13.04% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JHS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 10.7% for JHS. Worst drawdown: JHS -47.8% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both JHS and QQQ?
JHS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.13, 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, JHS or QQQ?
JHS yields 5.16% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so JHS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than JHS?
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.