PCS vs QQQ
PGIM Corporate Bond 0-5 Year ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PCS or QQQ?
Short Term High Quality 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 | PCS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $638M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.16% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 297 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -1.51% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.28% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.7%Best | 21.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -2.5%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,065 | $12,993Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term High Quality | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 29, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 1, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.1 years).
PCS 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.
PCS vs QQQ Performance
PGIM Corporate Bond 0-5 Year ETF (PCS) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PCS returned -0.28% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, PCS is down 1.51% versus a gain of 17.95% 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 21.2% compared with 1.7% for PCS. 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 -2.5% for PCS and -12.0% 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 0.26. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCS charges 0.20% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $18 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCS currently yields 5.16% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 171 holdings in PCS and 102 in QQQ, totalling 60.8% 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 171 positions we hold weights for in PCS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 297 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCS 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, PCS or QQQ?
PCS has an expense ratio of 0.20% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCS or QQQ?
Over the past year PCS returned -0.28% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PCS annualized +0.59% vs +26.87% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.2% annualized versus 1.7% for PCS. Worst drawdown: PCS -2.5% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both PCS and QQQ?
PCS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.26, 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, PCS or QQQ?
PCS yields 5.16% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PCS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PCS?
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.