PGRI vs QQQ
Putnam International Stock ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PGRI or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.3%.
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 | PGRI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $7M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 58 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +4.27% | +22.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.93% | +23.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +27.53% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.67% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9%Best | 21.7% |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.3% | 47.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Putnam Investments | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
PGRI 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.
PGRI vs QQQ Performance
Putnam International Stock ETF (PGRI) is an ETF from Putnam Investments and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PGRI returned +4.93% while QQQ returned +23.60%. Year to date, PGRI is up 4.27% versus a gain of 22.95% 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 21.7% compared with 15.9% for PGRI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PGRI charges 0.55% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $18 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PGRI currently yields 0.11% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
6.7% of PGRI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings PGRI also owns.
PGRI and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 27 positions we hold weights for in PGRI and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 58 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PGRI (97.8% of the fund), and 2 for PGRI that do not appear in QQQ (5.1%).
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 PGRI | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASASML HOLDING NV | 6.66% | 0.69% | 5.97% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PGRI 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, PGRI or QQQ?
PGRI has an expense ratio of 0.55% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PGRI or QQQ?
Over the past year PGRI returned +4.93% vs +23.60% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PGRI or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.7% annualized versus 15.9% for PGRI.
Should I hold both PGRI and QQQ?
PGRI and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 PGRI and QQQ?
6.7% of PGRI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.7% of QQQ's is in holdings PGRI also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 27 positions we hold weights for in PGRI and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PGRI or QQQ?
PGRI yields 0.11% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PGRI?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.