PCLN vs QQQ
Pictet Cleaner Planet ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PCLN or QQQ?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PCLN led over 1Y and the full window. PCLN is less concentrated, with 40.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.
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 | PCLN | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $437.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 0.43% |
| Holdings | 129 | 208 |
| YTD Return | +14.39%Best | +12.98% |
| 1Y Return | +16.71%Best | +11.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.74% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.5% | 22.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.8% | -14.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,641Best | $11,607 |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.5%Best | 46.9% |
| Fund Family | Pictet Asset Management Ltd. (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 15, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 16, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.1 years).
PCLN 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
PCLN vs QQQ Performance
Pictet Cleaner Planet ETF (PCLN) is an ETF from Pictet Asset Management Ltd. (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PCLN returned +16.71% while QQQ returned +11.59%. Year to date, PCLN is up 14.39% versus a gain of 12.98% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.5% compared with 22.3% 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 -19.8% for PCLN and -14.8% 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLN charges 0.70% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $18 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCLN currently yields 0.06% against 0.43% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
35.3% of PCLN's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 11.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings PCLN also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
12 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in PCLN and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 129 and 208.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 83 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PCLN (86.9% of the fund), and 22 for PCLN that do not appear in QQQ (36.0%).
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 PCLN | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.27% | 2.52% | 1.75% |
| ASML:ASASML Holding NV - Ordinary Shares | 5.07% | 0.66% | 4.41% |
| AMATApplied Material | 3.85% | 1.45% | 2.40% |
| ADIAnalog Devices | 3.95% | 0.83% | 3.12% |
| NXPINxp Semiconductors N.V. Common Stock | 4.06% | 0.25% | 3.81% |
| SNPSSynopsys | 3.74% | 0.38% | 3.36% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Inc | 2.91% | 0.90% | 2.01% |
| LRCXLam Research Corporation | 1.55% | 1.47% | 0.08% |
| ADSKAutodesk, Inc. | 2.42% | 0.22% | 2.20% |
| LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.63% | 0.97% | 0.66% |
35.3% of PCLN is already inside QQQ.
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, PCLN or QQQ?
PCLN has an expense ratio of 0.70% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLN or QQQ?
Over the past year PCLN returned +16.71% vs +11.59% for QQQ, so PCLN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PCLN annualized +14.81% vs +14.51% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLN or QQQ?
PCLN has been the more volatile fund at 23.5% annualized versus 22.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PCLN -19.8% vs QQQ -14.8%.
Should I hold both PCLN and QQQ?
PCLN and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 PCLN and QQQ?
35.3% of PCLN's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 11.0% of QQQ's is in holdings PCLN also owns. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in PCLN and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCLN or QQQ?
PCLN yields 0.06% while QQQ yields 0.43%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PCLN?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PCLN led over 1Y and the full window. PCLN is less concentrated, with 40.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.