KBWB vs QQQ
Invesco KBW Bank ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, KBWB or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. KBWB led over 1Y and 3Y, QQQ over 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.5%.
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 | KBWB | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $6.7B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.95% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 30 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +14.24% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +26.95%Best | +22.98% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +35.50%Best | +24.98% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.17% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.9% | 17.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -52.0% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,980 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.5% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 1, 2011 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 1, 2011 to Sep 11, 2026 (14.9 years).
KBWB 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
KBWB vs QQQ Performance
Invesco KBW Bank ETF (KBWB) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year KBWB returned +26.95% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, KBWB is up 14.24% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, KBWB compounded at +35.50% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +11.17% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.89% annualized vs +12.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KBWB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.9% compared with 17.4% 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 -52.0% for KBWB 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KBWB charges 0.35% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $18 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KBWB currently yields 1.95% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 25 holdings in KBWB and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 25 positions we hold weights for in KBWB and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 30 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for KBWB (97.0% of the fund), and 25 for KBWB that do not appear in QQQ (100.0%).
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 KBWB 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, KBWB or QQQ?
KBWB has an expense ratio of 0.35% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KBWB or QQQ?
Over the past year KBWB returned +26.95% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so KBWB leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), KBWB annualized +12.35% vs +18.89% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KBWB or QQQ?
KBWB has been the more volatile fund at 23.9% annualized versus 17.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: KBWB -52.0% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both KBWB and QQQ?
KBWB and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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, KBWB or QQQ?
KBWB yields 1.95% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so KBWB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than KBWB?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. KBWB led over 1Y and 3Y, QQQ over 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.