QQQ vs WEA
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Western Asset Premier Bond Fund
Which is better, QQQ or WEA?
Large Cap Growth against Long Term Low 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 | WEA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.22% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $131M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 7.57% |
| Holdings | 107 | 386 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | -2.18% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | -0.04% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +5.94% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | +0.65% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -64.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $10,329 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Long Term Low Quality |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 28, 2002 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 26, 2002 to Sep 11, 2026 (24.5 years).
QQQ vs WEA 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 WEA Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Western Asset Premier Bond Fund (WEA) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while WEA returned -0.04%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a loss of 2.18% for WEA.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +5.94% for WEA; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +0.65% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.16% annualized vs +0.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 15.7% for WEA. 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -64.9% for WEA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while WEA charges 1.22%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $122 annually, a gap of $104 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 7.57% for WEA.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 246 in WEA, totalling 99.9% and 110.5% 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 127 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and WEA as of Mar 31, 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 246 in WEA, against full books of 107 and 386.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and WEA 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 WEA?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while WEA charges 1.22%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $104 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or WEA?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs -0.04% for WEA, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), QQQ annualized +13.16% vs +0.14% for WEA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or WEA?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 15.7% for WEA. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs WEA -64.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and WEA?
QQQ and WEA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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 WEA?
QQQ yields 0.44% while WEA yields 7.57%, so WEA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WEA 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.