PILL vs QQQ
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PILL or QQQ?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PILL led over 1Y and 3Y, QQQ over 5Y and the full window. PILL is less concentrated, with 45.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | PILL | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.98% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $18M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 142 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +26.46%Best | +22.67% |
| 1Y Return | +80.50%Best | +24.33% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +32.92%Best | +29.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.98% | +17.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 60.3% | 19.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.9% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,048 | $21,924Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.8%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2017 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2017 to Oct 2, 2026 (8.9 years).
PILL 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 8.9 years both funds cover.
PILL vs QQQ Performance
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X ETF (PILL) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PILL returned +80.50% while QQQ returned +24.33%. Year to date, PILL is up 26.46% versus a gain of 22.67% for QQQ.
Over three years, PILL compounded at +32.92% per year against +29.05% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -1.98% and +17.00% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.09% annualized vs -4.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PILL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 60.3% compared with 19.9% 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 -88.9% for PILL 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 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PILL charges 0.98% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $98 vs $18 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PILL currently yields 0.33% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 65 holdings in PILL and 102 in QQQ, totalling 102.2% 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 65 positions we hold weights for in PILL and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 142 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PILL (97.8% of the fund), and 61 for PILL that do not appear in QQQ (97.8%).
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 PILL 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, PILL or QQQ?
PILL has an expense ratio of 0.98% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PILL or QQQ?
Over the past year PILL returned +80.50% vs +24.33% for QQQ, so PILL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PILL annualized -4.49% vs +20.09% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PILL or QQQ?
PILL has been the more volatile fund at 60.3% annualized versus 19.9% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PILL -88.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PILL and QQQ?
PILL and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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, PILL or QQQ?
PILL yields 0.33% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PILL?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PILL led over 1Y and 3Y, QQQ over 5Y and the full window. PILL is less concentrated, with 45.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.