PTA vs QQQ
Cohen & Steers Tax-Advantaged Preferred Securities & Income Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PTA 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 | PTA | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.01% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | - | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.91% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 283 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -0.88% | +17.44%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.60% | +24.69%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.54% | +24.76%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.51% | +14.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.5%Best | 20.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.7%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,778 | $19,441Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 28, 2020 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 28, 2020 to Sep 8, 2026 (5.9 years).
PTA 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 5.9 years both funds cover.
PTA vs QQQ Performance
Cohen & Steers Tax-Advantaged Preferred Securities & Income Fund (PTA) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PTA returned -3.60% while QQQ returned +24.69%. Year to date, PTA is down 0.88% versus a gain of 17.44% for QQQ.
Over three years, PTA compounded at +9.54% per year against +24.76% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +1.51% and +14.22% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.70% annualized vs +2.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 13.5% for PTA. 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 -28.7% for PTA 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PTA charges 2.01% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $201 vs $18 annually, a gap of $183 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PTA currently yields 7.91% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 167 holdings in PTA and 102 in QQQ, totalling 93.7% 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 186 days apart, PTA as of Jan 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 167 positions we hold weights for in PTA and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 283 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PTA 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, PTA or QQQ?
PTA has an expense ratio of 2.01% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $183 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PTA or QQQ?
Over the past year PTA returned -3.60% vs +24.69% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), PTA annualized +2.34% vs +18.70% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PTA or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 13.5% for PTA. Worst drawdown: PTA -28.7% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PTA and QQQ?
PTA and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, PTA or QQQ?
PTA yields 7.91% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PTA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PTA?
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.