QQQ vs TAXI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Northern Trust Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or TAXI?
QQQ has been ahead.
TAXI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y 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 | TAXI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $498.6B | $186M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 2.52% |
| Holdings | 321 | 5,009 |
| YTD Return | +22.35%Best | -2.25% |
| 1Y Return | +22.84%Best | -0.39% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.55% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.36% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 4.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0% | -4.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $13,093Best | $10,113 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Northern Trust Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 19, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026 (1.1 years).
QQQ vs TAXI 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs TAXI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Northern Trust Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (TAXI) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.84% while TAXI returned -0.39%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.35% versus a loss of 2.25% for TAXI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 4.0% for TAXI. 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -4.8% for TAXI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TAXI charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $5 annually, a gap of $13 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 2.52% for TAXI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 507 in TAXI, totalling 99.9% and 18.6% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 507 in TAXI, against full books of 321 and 5,009.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and TAXI 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 TAXI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TAXI charges 0.05%. TAXI is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TAXI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.84% vs -0.39% for TAXI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +27.76% vs +1.03% for TAXI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TAXI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 4.0% for TAXI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs TAXI -4.8%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TAXI?
QQQ and TAXI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, 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 TAXI?
QQQ yields 0.42% while TAXI yields 2.52%, so TAXI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TAXI better than QQQ?
TAXI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.