QQQ vs ZROZ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon US Treasury Index Exchange-Traded Fund
Which is better, QQQ or ZROZ?
Large Cap Growth against Long Term Government Bond.
ZROZ 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 | ZROZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.15%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 5.53% |
| Holdings | 107 | 23 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | -5.21% |
| 1Y Return | +22.10%Best | -9.95% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.27%Best | -5.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.60%Best | -14.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6%Best | 21.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -63.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,766Best | $4,642 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | PIMCO (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Long Term Government Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 30, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 4, 2009 to Sep 17, 2026 (16.9 years).
QQQ vs ZROZ 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 ZROZ Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon US Treasury Index Exchange-Traded Fund (ZROZ) is an ETF from PIMCO (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% while ZROZ returned -9.95%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a loss of 5.21% for ZROZ.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.27% per year against -5.18% for ZROZ; over five years the annualized figures are +14.60% and -14.23% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.66% annualized vs -0.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ZROZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.7% compared with 17.6% for QQQ. 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 -63.7% for ZROZ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.03. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while ZROZ charges 0.15%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $15 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 5.53% for ZROZ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 18 in ZROZ, totalling 99.9% and 86.6% 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 18 in ZROZ, against full books of 107 and 23.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and ZROZ 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 ZROZ?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while ZROZ charges 0.15%. ZROZ is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or ZROZ?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% vs -9.95% for ZROZ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), QQQ annualized +18.66% vs -0.20% for ZROZ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or ZROZ?
ZROZ has been the more volatile fund at 21.7% annualized versus 17.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs ZROZ -63.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and ZROZ?
QQQ and ZROZ have a monthly-return correlation of -0.03, 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 ZROZ?
QQQ yields 0.44% while ZROZ yields 5.53%, so ZROZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZROZ better than QQQ?
ZROZ 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.