PWS vs QQQ
Pacer WealthShield ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PWS or QQQ?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PWS is less concentrated, with 30.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | PWS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $25M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 359 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -1.16% | +15.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.78% | +19.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.73% | +24.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.06% | +13.93%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 20.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.9%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,541 | $19,195Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.4%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2017 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2017 to Sep 16, 2026 (8.8 years).
PWS 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 8.8 years both funds cover.
PWS vs QQQ Performance
Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PWS returned +1.78% while QQQ returned +19.78%. Year to date, PWS is down 1.16% versus a gain of 15.21% for QQQ.
Over three years, PWS compounded at +6.73% per year against +24.58% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +1.06% and +13.93% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.25% annualized vs +4.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.2% compared with 12.5% for PWS. 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 -24.9% for PWS 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PWS charges 0.60% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $18 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PWS currently yields 1.27% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
23.0% of PWS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 61.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings PWS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
51 positions in common, counted across the 352 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 359 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 45 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PWS (36.3% of the fund), and 293 for PWS that do not appear in QQQ (75.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PWS | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.44% | 8.44% | 4.00% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.86% | 7.27% | 3.41% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.13% | 5.76% | 2.63% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.90% | 4.43% | 3.53% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.46% | 3.16% | 1.70% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.64% | 3.45% | 2.81% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 0.35% | 2.23% | 1.88% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.36% | 2.10% | 1.74% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 0.30% | 1.86% | 1.56% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp 3.125 06/15/2060 | 0.31% | 1.69% | 1.38% |
61.3% of QQQ is already inside PWS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PWS or QQQ?
PWS has an expense ratio of 0.60% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PWS or QQQ?
Over the past year PWS returned +1.78% vs +19.78% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PWS annualized +4.13% vs +19.25% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PWS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.2% annualized versus 12.5% for PWS. Worst drawdown: PWS -24.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PWS and QQQ?
PWS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between PWS and QQQ?
61.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings PWS also owns. 61.3% of QQQ's is in holdings PWS also owns. They hold 51 positions in common, counted across the 352 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PWS or QQQ?
PWS yields 1.27% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PWS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PWS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PWS is less concentrated, with 30.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.