PHK vs QQQ
PIMCO High Income Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PHK or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
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 | PHK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.92% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $848M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.86% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 468 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +0.72% | +17.44%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.83% | +24.69%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.84% | +24.76%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.02% | +14.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.3% | 18.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.9% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,178 | $19,441Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 30, 2003 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 25, 2003 to Sep 8, 2026 (23.4 years).
PHK 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.
PHK vs QQQ Performance
PIMCO High Income Fund (PHK) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PHK returned +1.83% while QQQ returned +24.69%. Year to date, PHK is up 0.72% versus a gain of 17.44% for QQQ.
Over three years, PHK compounded at +10.84% per year against +24.76% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +4.02% and +14.22% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.24% annualized vs -2.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PHK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.3% compared with 18.1% 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 -80.9% for PHK 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PHK charges 2.92% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $292 vs $18 annually, a gap of $274 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PHK currently yields 12.86% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 22 holdings in PHK and 102 in QQQ, totalling 8.4% 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 309 days apart, PHK as of Sep 30, 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 22 positions we hold weights for in PHK and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 468 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PHK 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, PHK or QQQ?
PHK has an expense ratio of 2.92% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $274 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PHK or QQQ?
Over the past year PHK returned +1.83% vs +24.69% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), PHK annualized -2.43% vs +15.24% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PHK or QQQ?
PHK has been the more volatile fund at 26.3% annualized versus 18.1% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PHK -80.9% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both PHK and QQQ?
PHK and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, PHK or QQQ?
PHK yields 12.86% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PHK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PHK?
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.