QQQ vs SDHY
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund
Which is better, QQQ or SDHY?
Large Cap Growth against Short Term High Quality.
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 | SDHY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.90% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $441M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 7.54% |
| Holdings | 107 | 572 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | -0.49% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | -1.28% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +9.74% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | +4.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.9% | 10.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -23.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $12,379 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | PGIM Investments |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Short Term High Quality |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Nov 25, 2020 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 25, 2020 to Sep 11, 2026 (5.8 years).
QQQ vs SDHY 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 5.8 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SDHY Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund (SDHY) is an ETF from PGIM Investments. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while SDHY returned -1.28%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a loss of 0.49% for SDHY.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +9.74% for SDHY; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +4.36% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +17.07% annualized vs +3.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 10.1% for SDHY. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -23.1% for SDHY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SDHY charges 1.90%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $190 annually, a gap of $172 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 7.54% for SDHY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 456 in SDHY, totalling 99.9% and 83.4% 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 187 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and SDHY as of Jan 30, 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 456 in SDHY, against full books of 107 and 572.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SDHY 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 SDHY?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SDHY charges 1.90%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $172 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SDHY?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs -1.28% for SDHY, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), QQQ annualized +17.07% vs +3.54% for SDHY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SDHY?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 10.1% for SDHY. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SDHY -23.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SDHY?
QQQ and SDHY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 SDHY?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SDHY yields 7.54%, so SDHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SDHY 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.