PBJ vs QQQ
Invesco Food and Beverage ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PBJ or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PBJ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | PBJ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.63% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $84M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.28% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 66 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +2.35% | +22.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.05% | +24.33%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.32% | +29.05%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.99% | +17.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.0%Best | 18.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -41.7%Best | -53.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,587 | $21,924Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 23, 2005 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 23, 2005 to Oct 2, 2026 (21.3 years).
PBJ 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 21.3 years both funds cover.
PBJ vs QQQ Performance
Invesco Food and Beverage ETF (PBJ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PBJ returned +0.05% while QQQ returned +24.33%. Year to date, PBJ is up 2.35% versus a gain of 22.67% for QQQ.
Over three years, PBJ compounded at +4.32% per year against +29.05% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +2.99% and +17.00% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.31% annualized vs +5.79%.
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 13.0% for PBJ. 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 -41.7% for PBJ 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PBJ charges 0.63% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $63 vs $18 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PBJ currently yields 1.28% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
17.2% of PBJ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings PBJ also owns.
PBJ and QQQ share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in PBJ and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 66 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PBJ (96.6% of the fund), and 25 for PBJ that do not appear in QQQ (77.5%).
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 PBJ 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, PBJ or QQQ?
PBJ has an expense ratio of 0.63% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PBJ or QQQ?
Over the past year PBJ returned +0.05% vs +24.33% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), PBJ annualized +5.79% vs +15.31% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PBJ or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 13.0% for PBJ. Worst drawdown: PBJ -41.7% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both PBJ and QQQ?
PBJ and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 PBJ and QQQ?
17.2% of PBJ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.2% of QQQ's is in holdings PBJ also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in PBJ and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PBJ or QQQ?
PBJ yields 1.28% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so PBJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PBJ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PBJ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.