QQQ vs SYSB
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares Systematic Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SYSB?
QQQ has been ahead.
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 | SYSB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.25% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 4.62% |
| Holdings | 107 | 841 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | -4.35% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | -4.14% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +1.02% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | -3.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 4.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -22.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $8,482 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 24, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 26, 2015 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.5 years).
QQQ vs SYSB 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 SYSB Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares Systematic Bond ETF (SYSB) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while SYSB returned -4.14%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a loss of 4.35% for SYSB.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +1.02% for SYSB; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and -3.24% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.04% annualized vs -1.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 4.6% for SYSB. 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 -22.4% for SYSB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SYSB charges 0.25%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $25 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 4.62% for SYSB.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings SYSB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SYSB, our book for it covers 87.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and SYSB share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 645 in SYSB, against full books of 107 and 841.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SYSB 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 SYSB?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SYSB charges 0.25%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SYSB?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs -4.14% for SYSB, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), QQQ annualized +18.04% vs -1.29% for SYSB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SYSB?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 4.6% for SYSB. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SYSB -22.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SYSB?
QQQ and SYSB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 QQQ and SYSB?
At least 1.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings SYSB also owns. Our book for SYSB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 645 in SYSB.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SYSB?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SYSB yields 4.62%, so SYSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SYSB 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.