PSF vs QQQ
Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund Inc. vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PSF or QQQ?
Preferred Stock 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 | PSF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.59% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2,687.94 | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.02% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 332 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -2.82% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.79% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.73% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.66% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6%Best | 17.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -55.4% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,674 | $19,586Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 24, 2010 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 24, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (15.8 years).
PSF 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.
PSF vs QQQ Performance
Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund Inc. (PSF) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PSF returned -1.79% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, PSF is down 2.82% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, PSF compounded at +9.73% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -0.66% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.13% annualized vs +0.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 16.6% for PSF. 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 PSF 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSF charges 1.59% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $159 vs $18 annually, a gap of $141 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSF currently yields 7.02% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 186 holdings in PSF and 102 in QQQ, totalling 86.8% 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 127 days apart, PSF as of Mar 31, 2026 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 186 positions we hold weights for in PSF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 332 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PSF 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, PSF or QQQ?
PSF has an expense ratio of 1.59% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $141 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSF or QQQ?
Over the past year PSF returned -1.79% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), PSF annualized +0.99% vs +18.13% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSF or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 16.6% for PSF. Worst drawdown: PSF -55.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PSF and QQQ?
PSF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, PSF or QQQ?
PSF yields 7.02% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PSF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PSF?
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.