PICK vs QQQ
iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PICK or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PICK led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.5%.
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 | PICK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2.6B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.03% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 291 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +26.76%Best | +17.11% |
| 1Y Return | +62.31%Best | +23.99% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.83% | +24.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.86% | +14.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.2% | 17.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.4% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,311 | $19,449Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.5% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2012 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2012 to Sep 9, 2026 (14.6 years).
PICK 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 covers the 14.6 years both funds cover.
PICK vs QQQ Performance
iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PICK returned +62.31% while QQQ returned +23.99%. Year to date, PICK is up 26.76% versus a gain of 17.11% for QQQ.
Over three years, PICK compounded at +21.83% per year against +24.62% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +12.86% and +14.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.61% annualized vs +5.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PICK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.2% compared with 17.4% 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 -80.4% for PICK 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PICK charges 0.39% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $18 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PICK currently yields 2.03% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 256 holdings in PICK and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 256 positions we hold weights for in PICK and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 291 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PICK (97.0% of the fund), and 27 for PICK that do not appear in QQQ (18.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PICK 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, PICK or QQQ?
PICK has an expense ratio of 0.39% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PICK or QQQ?
Over the past year PICK returned +62.31% vs +23.99% for QQQ, so PICK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PICK annualized +5.78% vs +18.61% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PICK or QQQ?
PICK has been the more volatile fund at 27.2% annualized versus 17.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PICK -80.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PICK and QQQ?
PICK and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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, PICK or QQQ?
PICK yields 2.03% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PICK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PICK?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PICK led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.