PGP vs QQQ
PIMCO Global StockPlus & Income Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PGP or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | PGP | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.64% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $105M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.13% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 417 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +2.16% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.79% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.20% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.71% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.2% | 18.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.3% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,200 | $19,407Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 31, 2005 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2005 to Sep 4, 2026 (21.3 years).
PGP 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.
PGP vs QQQ Performance
PIMCO Global StockPlus & Income Fund (PGP) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PGP returned +14.79% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, PGP is up 2.16% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, PGP compounded at +19.20% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +5.71% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.97% annualized vs -2.24%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PGP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.2% compared with 18.4% 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 -81.3% for PGP and -53.5% 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PGP charges 2.64% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $264 vs $18 annually, a gap of $246 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PGP currently yields 9.13% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 25 holdings in PGP and 102 in QQQ, totalling 9.8% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 217 days apart, PGP as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in PGP and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 417 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PGP 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, PGP or QQQ?
PGP has an expense ratio of 2.64% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $246 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PGP or QQQ?
Over the past year PGP returned +14.79% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), PGP annualized -2.24% vs +14.97% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PGP or QQQ?
PGP has been the more volatile fund at 26.2% annualized versus 18.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PGP -81.3% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both PGP and QQQ?
PGP and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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, PGP or QQQ?
PGP yields 9.13% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PGP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PGP?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.