NEAR vs QQQ
iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, NEAR or QQQ?
Short Term Bond 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 | NEAR | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $5.1B | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.44% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 1,878 | 321 |
| YTD Return | -2.38% | +22.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.73% | +23.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.66% | +27.53%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.09% | +16.67%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.6%Best | 17.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.6%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,643 | $21,617Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2013 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 26, 2013 to Oct 9, 2026 (13 years).
NEAR 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.
NEAR vs QQQ Performance
iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year NEAR returned -1.73% while QQQ returned +23.60%. Year to date, NEAR is down 2.38% versus a gain of 22.95% for QQQ.
Over three years, NEAR compounded at +3.66% per year against +27.53% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.09% and +16.67% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.15% annualized vs +2.07%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% compared with 1.6% for NEAR. 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 -9.6% for NEAR 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 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NEAR charges 0.25% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $18 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NEAR currently yields 4.44% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings NEAR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NEAR, our book for it covers 50.7% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 803 positions we hold weights for in NEAR and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1,878 and 321.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NEAR | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.12% | 0.87% | 0.75% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NEAR 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, NEAR or QQQ?
NEAR has an expense ratio of 0.25% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NEAR or QQQ?
Over the past year NEAR returned -1.73% vs +23.60% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), NEAR annualized +2.07% vs +19.15% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NEAR or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.9% annualized versus 1.6% for NEAR. Worst drawdown: NEAR -9.6% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both NEAR and QQQ?
NEAR and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, 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, NEAR or QQQ?
NEAR yields 4.44% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so NEAR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than NEAR?
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.