PEXL vs QQQ
Pacer US Export Leaders ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PEXL or QQQ?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PEXL led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PEXL is less concentrated, with 43.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | PEXL | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $54M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.31% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 102 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +17.05%Best | +16.87% |
| 1Y Return | +26.95%Best | +22.98% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.42% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.06% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.9% | 20.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.9% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,896 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.9%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 23, 2018 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 24, 2018 to Sep 11, 2026 (8.1 years).
PEXL 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 8.1 years both funds cover.
PEXL vs QQQ Performance
Pacer US Export Leaders ETF (PEXL) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PEXL returned +26.95% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, PEXL is up 17.05% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, PEXL compounded at +19.42% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +11.06% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.93% annualized vs +14.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PEXL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.9% compared with 20.5% 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 -36.9% for PEXL and -35.1% 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PEXL 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, PEXL currently yields 0.31% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
63.3% of PEXL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 43.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings PEXL also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
30 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PEXL and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 102 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 101 and 102 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 65 positions PEXL does not, 53.9% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.44%, AMZN 4.67%, MU 4.43%, GOOG 3.13%, TSLA 2.56%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PEXL | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.58% | 7.27% | 1.69% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 6.66% | 5.76% | 0.90% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 4.84% | 3.36% | 1.48% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 4.72% | 3.45% | 1.27% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.97% | 3.16% | 1.81% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 5.18% | 2.78% | 2.40% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 2.95% | 1.86% | 1.09% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 3.06% | 1.69% | 1.37% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 2.77% | 1.37% | 1.40% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 1.92% | 1.12% | 0.80% |
63.3% of PEXL 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, PEXL or QQQ?
PEXL 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, PEXL or QQQ?
Over the past year PEXL returned +26.95% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so PEXL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PEXL annualized +14.06% vs +18.93% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PEXL or QQQ?
PEXL has been the more volatile fund at 21.9% annualized versus 20.5% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PEXL -36.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PEXL and QQQ?
PEXL and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 PEXL and QQQ?
63.3% of PEXL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 43.2% of QQQ's is in holdings PEXL also owns. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PEXL and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PEXL or QQQ?
PEXL yields 0.31% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PEXL?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PEXL led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PEXL is less concentrated, with 43.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.