PY vs QQQ
Principal Value ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PY or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
PY has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PY is less concentrated, with 25.8% 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 | PY | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $245M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.85% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 100 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +10.88% | +15.18%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.11% | +19.65%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.99% | +24.60%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.08% | +13.94%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 18.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.5% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,443 | $19,204Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.8%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 21, 2016 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2016 to Sep 15, 2026 (10.5 years).
PY 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 10.5 years both funds cover.
PY vs QQQ Performance
Principal Value ETF (PY) is an ETF from Principal Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PY returned +13.11% while QQQ returned +19.65%. Year to date, PY is up 10.88% versus a gain of 15.18% for QQQ.
Over three years, PY compounded at +14.99% per year against +24.60% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +9.08% and +13.94% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.95% annualized vs +9.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 18.8% for QQQ. 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 -45.5% for PY 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
PY charges 0.15% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $18 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PY currently yields 1.85% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
31.1% of PY's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 34.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings PY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
27 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PY and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 100 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 69 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PY (62.8% of the fund), and 73 for PY that do not appear in QQQ (68.4%).
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 PY | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 8.50% | 7.27% | 1.23% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.39% | 4.67% | 1.28% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 1.17% | 2.23% | 1.06% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 0.76% | 2.41% | 1.65% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 0.54% | 2.56% | 2.02% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.84% | 2.10% | 1.26% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.64% | 1.84% | 1.20% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.78% | 1.12% | 0.34% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 1.03% | 0.82% | 0.21% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.95% | 0.83% | 0.12% |
34.7% of QQQ is already inside PY.
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, PY or QQQ?
PY has an expense ratio of 0.15% while QQQ charges 0.18%. PY is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PY or QQQ?
Over the past year PY returned +13.11% vs +19.65% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), PY annualized +9.77% vs +19.95% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PY or QQQ?
PY has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: PY -45.5% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PY and QQQ?
PY 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.
What is the holdings overlap between PY and QQQ?
34.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings PY also owns. 34.7% of QQQ's is in holdings PY also owns. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PY and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PY or QQQ?
PY yields 1.85% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so PY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PY?
PY has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PY is less concentrated, with 25.8% 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.