PCFI vs QQQ
Polen Floating Rate Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PCFI or QQQ?
Bank Loan 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 | PCFI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.29% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 124 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +2.92% | +17.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.12% | +22.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.5%Best | 19.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.0%Best | -15.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $10,462 | $14,759Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 24, 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 24, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.5 years).
PCFI 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.
PCFI vs QQQ Performance
Polen Floating Rate Income ETF (PCFI) is an ETF from Polen Capital and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PCFI returned +2.12% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, PCFI is up 2.92% versus a gain of 17.21% 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 19.1% compared with 4.5% for PCFI. 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 -4.0% for PCFI and -15.7% 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 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCFI charges 0.49% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $18 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCFI currently yields 10.29% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 32 holdings in PCFI and 102 in QQQ, totalling 24.6% 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 32 positions we hold weights for in PCFI and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 124 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCFI 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, PCFI or QQQ?
PCFI has an expense ratio of 0.49% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCFI or QQQ?
Over the past year PCFI returned +2.12% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PCFI annualized +3.06% vs +29.63% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCFI or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 4.5% for PCFI. Worst drawdown: PCFI -4.0% vs QQQ -15.7%.
Should I hold both PCFI and QQQ?
PCFI and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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, PCFI or QQQ?
PCFI yields 10.29% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PCFI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PCFI?
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.