PALD vs QQQ
Direxion Daily PANW Bear 1X ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PALD or QQQ?
Trading-Leveraged Equity 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 | PALD | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.02% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.15% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 8 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -52.85% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | -48.04% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.98% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.39% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 49.0% | 19.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -67.4% | -14.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $4,601 | $14,999Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 26, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.5 years).
PALD 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
PALD vs QQQ Performance
Direxion Daily PANW Bear 1X ETF (PALD) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PALD returned -48.04% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, PALD is down 52.85% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PALD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 49.0% compared with 19.2% 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 -67.4% for PALD and -14.1% 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 -0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PALD charges 1.02% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $102 vs $18 annually, a gap of $84 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PALD currently yields 6.15% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3 holdings in PALD and 102 in QQQ, totalling 107.7% 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 3 positions we hold weights for in PALD and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 8 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PALD 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, PALD or QQQ?
PALD has an expense ratio of 1.02% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $84 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PALD or QQQ?
Over the past year PALD returned -48.04% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PALD annualized -40.40% vs +31.03% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PALD or QQQ?
PALD has been the more volatile fund at 49.0% annualized versus 19.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PALD -67.4% vs QQQ -14.1%.
Should I hold both PALD and QQQ?
PALD and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of -0.47, 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, PALD or QQQ?
PALD yields 6.15% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PALD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PALD?
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.