PGX vs QQQ
Invesco Preferred ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PGX or QQQ?
Preferred Stock 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 | PGX | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.51% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 270 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -5.93% | +21.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.13% | +25.89%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.75% | +28.80%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.85% | +15.67%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 18.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -69.5% | -49.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,109 | $20,706Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2008 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 31, 2008 to Sep 25, 2026 (18.7 years).
PGX 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.
PGX vs QQQ Performance
Invesco Preferred ETF (PGX) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PGX returned -7.13% while QQQ returned +25.89%. Year to date, PGX is down 5.93% versus a gain of 21.71% for QQQ.
Over three years, PGX compounded at +3.75% per year against +28.80% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -1.85% and +15.67% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +16.42% annualized vs -1.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 14.4% for PGX. 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 -69.5% for PGX and -49.4% 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PGX charges 0.50% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $18 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PGX currently yields 6.51% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings PGX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PGX, our book for it covers 90.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and PGX share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 233 positions we hold weights for in PGX and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 270 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PGX 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, PGX or QQQ?
PGX has an expense ratio of 0.50% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PGX or QQQ?
Over the past year PGX returned -7.13% vs +25.89% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), PGX annualized -1.93% vs +16.42% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PGX or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 14.4% for PGX. Worst drawdown: PGX -69.5% vs QQQ -49.4%.
Should I hold both PGX and QQQ?
PGX and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 PGX and QQQ?
At least 1.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings PGX also owns. Our book for PGX is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 233 positions we hold weights for in PGX and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PGX or QQQ?
PGX yields 6.51% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PGX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PGX?
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.