PIPE vs QQQ
Invesco SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PIPE or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PIPE led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.0%.
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 | PIPE | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $68M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.67% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 29 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +24.20%Best | +17.21% |
| 1Y Return | +25.95%Best | +22.10% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Best | 20.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.7%Best | -22.4% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $12,556 | $13,516Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.0% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 20, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 20, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.6 years).
PIPE 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
PIPE vs QQQ Performance
Invesco SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (PIPE) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PIPE returned +25.95% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, PIPE is up 24.20% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 14.3% for PIPE. 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 -15.7% for PIPE and -22.4% 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 -0.26. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PIPE charges 0.75% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $18 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PIPE currently yields 3.67% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 26 holdings in PIPE and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 26 positions we hold weights for in PIPE and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 29 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PIPE (97.5% of the fund), and 20 for PIPE that do not appear in QQQ (79.0%).
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 PIPE 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, PIPE or QQQ?
PIPE has an expense ratio of 0.75% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PIPE or QQQ?
Over the past year PIPE returned +25.95% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so PIPE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PIPE annualized +15.29% vs +20.72% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PIPE or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 14.3% for PIPE. Worst drawdown: PIPE -15.7% vs QQQ -22.4%.
Should I hold both PIPE and QQQ?
PIPE and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of -0.26, 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, PIPE or QQQ?
PIPE yields 3.67% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PIPE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PIPE?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PIPE led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.