PCRB vs QQQ
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PCRB or QQQ?
Investment Grade Bond 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 | PCRB | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.36% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $7M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.74% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 568 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.6%Best | 17.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.2%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.4 years | $11,141 | $25,635Best |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Investment Grade Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 19, 2023 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 94 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. PCRB has data through Jun 9, 2026 and QQQ through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 20, 2023 to Jun 9, 2026 (3.4 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 5.6% for PCRB. 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 -7.2% for PCRB and -22.8% 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 0.34. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCRB charges 0.36% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $36 vs $18 annually, a gap of $18 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCRB currently yields 9.74% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings PCRB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PCRB, our book for it covers 82.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 187 days apart, PCRB as of Jan 30, 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 381 positions we hold weights for in PCRB and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 568 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PCRB | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Us Inc Com Usd0.00001 | 0.34% | 0.82% | 0.48% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCRB 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, PCRB or QQQ?
PCRB has an expense ratio of 0.36% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $18 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, PCRB or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 5.6% for PCRB. Worst drawdown: PCRB -7.2% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both PCRB and QQQ?
PCRB and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.34, 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, PCRB or QQQ?
PCRB yields 9.74% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PCRB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PCRB?
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.