PIM vs QQQ
Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PIM or QQQ?
Short Term Low Quality 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 | PIM | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.01% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1,493.58 | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.93% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 775 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -3.09% | +15.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.50% | +19.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.92% | +24.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.39% | +13.93%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.9%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -55.4%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,254 | $19,195Best |
| Fund Family | Putnam Investments | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Low Quality | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 29, 1988 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 16, 2026 (27.5 years).
PIM 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.
PIM vs QQQ Performance
Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust (PIM) is an ETF from Putnam Investments and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PIM returned -5.50% while QQQ returned +19.78%. Year to date, PIM is down 3.09% versus a gain of 15.21% for QQQ.
Over three years, PIM compounded at +7.92% per year against +24.58% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +2.39% and +13.93% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.95% annualized vs -1.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 10.9% for PIM. 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 -55.4% for PIM and -83.0% 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 0.20. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PIM charges 1.01% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $101 vs $18 annually, a gap of $83 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PIM currently yields 7.93% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3 holdings in PIM and 102 in QQQ, totalling 2.7% 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, PIM 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 3 positions we hold weights for in PIM and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 775 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PIM 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, PIM or QQQ?
PIM has an expense ratio of 1.01% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $83 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PIM or QQQ?
Over the past year PIM returned -5.50% vs +19.78% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), PIM annualized -1.76% vs +12.95% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PIM or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 10.9% for PIM. Worst drawdown: PIM -55.4% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both PIM and QQQ?
PIM and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.20, 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, PIM or QQQ?
PIM yields 7.93% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PIM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PIM?
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.