MFSM vs QQQ
MFS Active Intermediate Muni Bond ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, MFSM or QQQ?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y 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 | MFSM | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $103M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.63% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 412 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -1.24% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.57% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.98% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.39% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.8%Best | 19.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.9%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $10,264 | $13,911Best |
| Fund Family | MFS Investment Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 5, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 5, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.8 years).
MFSM 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
MFSM vs QQQ Performance
MFS Active Intermediate Muni Bond ETF (MFSM) is an ETF from MFS Investment Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year MFSM returned +0.57% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, MFSM is down 1.24% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 3.8% for MFSM. 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 -3.9% for MFSM and -22.8% 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 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MFSM charges 0.34% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $18 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MFSM currently yields 3.63% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 89 holdings in MFSM and 102 in QQQ, totalling 19.7% 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 89 positions we hold weights for in MFSM and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 412 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MFSM 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, MFSM or QQQ?
MFSM has an expense ratio of 0.34% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MFSM or QQQ?
Over the past year MFSM returned +0.57% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), MFSM annualized +1.46% vs +20.13% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MFSM or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 3.8% for MFSM. Worst drawdown: MFSM -3.9% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both MFSM and QQQ?
MFSM and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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, MFSM or QQQ?
MFSM yields 3.63% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so MFSM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than MFSM?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.