PFUT vs QQQ
Putnam Sustainable Future ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PFUT or QQQ?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. PFUT is less concentrated, with 28.3% 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 | PFUT | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $4M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 72 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0%Best | 20.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -44.9% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,309 | $21,701Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.3%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Putnam Investments | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 25, 2021 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
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. PFUT has data through Jun 9, 2026 and QQQ through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2021 to Jun 9, 2026 (5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% compared with 20.0% for PFUT. 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 -44.9% for PFUT 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFUT charges 0.64% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $18 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFUT currently yields 0.00% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
17.0% of PFUT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 7.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings PFUT also owns.
PFUT and QQQ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 159 days apart, PFUT as of Feb 27, 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.
12 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in PFUT and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 72 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 84 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PFUT (90.1% of the fund), and 51 for PFUT that do not appear in QQQ (73.2%).
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 PFUT | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.21% | 3.16% | 1.95% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc. Class A | 2.16% | 0.41% | 1.75% |
| DXCMDexcom Inc. | 2.37% | 0.14% | 2.23% |
| ASML:ASAsml Holding N.V. | 1.78% | 0.68% | 1.10% |
| IDXXIdexx Laboratories Inc. | 1.78% | 0.20% | 1.58% |
| ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 1.83% | 0.13% | 1.70% |
| KDPKeurig Dr Pepper Inc (kdp Us) | 1.72% | 0.18% | 1.54% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corp | 1.29% | 0.42% | 0.87% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 0.72% | 0.81% | 0.09% |
| CDNSCadence Design Systems Inc. | 0.96% | 0.41% | 0.55% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFUT 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, PFUT or QQQ?
PFUT has an expense ratio of 0.64% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, PFUT or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 20.0% for PFUT. Worst drawdown: PFUT -44.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PFUT and QQQ?
PFUT and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 PFUT and QQQ?
17.0% of PFUT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 7.7% of QQQ's is in holdings PFUT also owns. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in PFUT and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFUT or QQQ?
PFUT yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PFUT?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. PFUT is less concentrated, with 28.3% 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.