PPH vs QQQ
VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PPH or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PPH 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 72.5%.
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 | PPH | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.36% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $985M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.92% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 26 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +13.18% | +17.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +32.25%Best | +26.50% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.91% | +24.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.69% | +14.15%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 30.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.6%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,617 | $19,381Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.5% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 20, 2011 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2000 to Sep 3, 2026 (26.6 years).
PPH 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 26.6 years both funds cover.
PPH vs QQQ Performance
VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) is an ETF from VanEck and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PPH returned +32.25% while QQQ returned +26.50%. Year to date, PPH is up 13.18% versus a gain of 17.33% for QQQ.
Over three years, PPH compounded at +14.91% per year against +24.58% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +10.69% and +14.15% respectively. Across the full 27-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +10.69% annualized vs +4.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.4% compared with 14.8% for PPH. 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 -56.6% for PPH 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 0.34. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PPH charges 0.36% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $36 vs $18 annually, a gap of $18 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PPH currently yields 1.92% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 25 holdings in PPH 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 25 positions we hold weights for in PPH and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 26 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PPH (97.5% of the fund), and 17 for PPH that do not appear in QQQ (66.0%).
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 PPH 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, PPH or QQQ?
PPH has an expense ratio of 0.36% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $18 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PPH or QQQ?
Over the past year PPH returned +32.25% vs +26.50% for QQQ, so PPH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (27 years), PPH annualized +4.29% vs +10.69% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PPH or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.4% annualized versus 14.8% for PPH. Worst drawdown: PPH -56.6% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both PPH and QQQ?
PPH and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.34, 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, PPH or QQQ?
PPH yields 1.92% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PPH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PPH?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PPH 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 72.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.