NFJ vs QQQ
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, NFJ or QQQ?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. NFJ led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NFJ is less concentrated, with 28.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | NFJ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.39% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 182 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +26.67%Best | +16.87% |
| 1Y Return | +30.10%Best | +22.98% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.36% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.01% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5%Best | 18.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -70.3% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,393 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.2%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 28, 2005 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2005 to Sep 11, 2026 (21.5 years).
NFJ 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.
NFJ vs QQQ Performance
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NFJ) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year NFJ returned +30.10% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, NFJ is up 26.67% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, NFJ compounded at +19.36% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +9.01% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.85% annualized vs -0.07%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 17.5% for NFJ. 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 -70.3% for NFJ and -53.5% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NFJ charges 0.96% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $18 annually, a gap of $78 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NFJ currently yields 7.39% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
16.1% of NFJ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 24.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings NFJ also owns.
QQQ and NFJ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 159 days apart, NFJ as of Feb 27, 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.
15 positions in common, counted across the 153 positions we hold weights for in NFJ and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 182 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 80 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for NFJ (72.5% of the fund), and 129 for NFJ that do not appear in QQQ (76.1%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NFJ | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 1.10% | 5.76% | 4.66% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.11% | 3.36% | 0.25% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 2.77% | 3.45% | 0.68% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.50% | 2.78% | 1.28% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 2.98% | 0.81% | 2.17% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.00% | 3.13% | 3.13% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.76% | 1.84% | 1.08% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp. | 0.92% | 0.79% | 0.13% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 1.32% | 0.28% | 1.04% |
| STXSeagate Technology Plc | 0.26% | 0.83% | 0.57% |
24.5% of QQQ is already inside NFJ.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NFJ or QQQ?
NFJ has an expense ratio of 0.96% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $78 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NFJ or QQQ?
Over the past year NFJ returned +30.10% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so NFJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), NFJ annualized -0.07% vs +14.85% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NFJ or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 17.5% for NFJ. Worst drawdown: NFJ -70.3% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both NFJ and QQQ?
NFJ and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between NFJ and QQQ?
24.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings NFJ also owns. 24.5% of QQQ's is in holdings NFJ also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 153 positions we hold weights for in NFJ and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, NFJ or QQQ?
NFJ yields 7.39% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so NFJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than NFJ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. NFJ led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NFJ is less concentrated, with 28.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.