QQQ vs YLD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Principal Active High Yield ETF
Which is better, QQQ or YLD?
Large Cap Growth against Allocation/Balanced.
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 | YLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $602M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 7.31% |
| Holdings | 107 | 148 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | +3.30% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | +3.87% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +8.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | +4.46% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 8.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -30.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $12,438 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Principal Funds |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jul 8, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 9, 2015 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.2 years).
QQQ vs YLD 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 YLD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Principal Active High Yield ETF (YLD) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while YLD returned +3.87%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 3.30% for YLD.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +8.00% for YLD; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +4.46% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.96% annualized vs +2.57%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 8.7% for YLD. 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 -30.3% for YLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while YLD charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $39 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 7.31% for YLD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 109 in YLD, totalling 99.9% and 81.9% 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 97 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and YLD as of Apr 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 109 in YLD, against full books of 107 and 148.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and YLD 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 YLD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while YLD charges 0.39%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or YLD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +3.87% for YLD, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QQQ annualized +18.96% vs +2.57% for YLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or YLD?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 8.7% for YLD. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs YLD -30.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and YLD?
QQQ and YLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 YLD?
QQQ yields 0.44% while YLD yields 7.31%, so YLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YLD 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.