QQQ vs SBI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Western Asset Intermediate Muni Fund Inc
Which is better, QQQ or SBI?
Large Cap Growth against Municipal Bond.
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 | QQQ | SBI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.29% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $115M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 6.15% |
| Holdings | 107 | 270 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | +0.50% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63%Best | +1.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15%Best | +6.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16%Best | -0.35% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.6% | 9.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -43.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,390Best | $9,826 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) |
| Category | Equity | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Municipal Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 2, 1992 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 10, 2026 (27.5 years).
QQQ vs SBI 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.
QQQ vs SBI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Western Asset Intermediate Muni Fund Inc (SBI) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while SBI returned +1.23%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a gain of 0.50% for SBI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.15% per year against +6.64% for SBI; over five years the annualized figures are +14.16% and -0.35% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.98% annualized vs -0.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 9.2% for SBI. 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 -83.0% for QQQ and -43.9% for SBI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.09. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SBI charges 1.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $129 annually, a gap of $111 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 6.15% for SBI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 148 in SBI, totalling 99.9% and 73.0% 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 159 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and SBI as of Feb 27, 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 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 148 in SBI, against full books of 107 and 270.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SBI 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, QQQ or SBI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SBI charges 1.29%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $111 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SBI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs +1.23% for SBI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), QQQ annualized +12.98% vs -0.22% for SBI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SBI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 9.2% for SBI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -83.0% vs SBI -43.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SBI?
QQQ and SBI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.09, 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, QQQ or SBI?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SBI yields 6.15%, so SBI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SBI better than QQQ?
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.