BSTZ vs QQQ
BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BSTZ or QQQ?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. BSTZ led over 1Y and 3Y, QQQ over 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 | BSTZ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.05% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.58% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 75 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +36.04%Best | +19.30% |
| 1Y Return | +46.93%Best | +22.47% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +36.67%Best | +26.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.92% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.7% | 20.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.3% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,714 | $20,484Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2019 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2019 to Oct 14, 2026 (7.3 years).
BSTZ vs QQQ 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 7.3 years both funds cover.
BSTZ vs QQQ Performance
BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust (BSTZ) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BSTZ returned +46.93% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, BSTZ is up 36.04% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, BSTZ compounded at +36.67% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +4.92% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +21.14% annualized vs +14.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BSTZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.7% compared with 20.2% 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 -59.3% for BSTZ and -35.1% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BSTZ charges 1.05% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $105 vs $18 annually, a gap of $87 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BSTZ currently yields 11.58% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 25.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings BSTZ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BSTZ, our book for it covers 62.9% 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 BSTZ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 274 days apart, BSTZ as of Dec 31, 2025 and QQQ as of Oct 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
14 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in BSTZ and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 75 and 321.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BSTZ | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.29% | 8.33% | 0.04% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.64% | 5.02% | 4.38% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.68% | 4.17% | 3.49% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 3.96% | 0.36% | 3.60% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.47% | 2.82% | 1.35% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 1.13% | 1.80% | 0.67% |
| KLACKla-tencor | 1.48% | 1.06% | 0.42% |
| APPAppLovin Corp. Com Cl A | 1.90% | 0.37% | 1.53% |
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 1.48% | 0.28% | 1.20% |
| TTWOTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc. | 1.49% | 0.16% | 1.33% |
25.8% of QQQ is already inside BSTZ.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BSTZ or QQQ?
BSTZ has an expense ratio of 1.05% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $87 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BSTZ or QQQ?
Over the past year BSTZ returned +46.93% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so BSTZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BSTZ annualized +14.35% vs +21.14% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BSTZ or QQQ?
BSTZ has been the more volatile fund at 28.7% annualized versus 20.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: BSTZ -59.3% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both BSTZ and QQQ?
BSTZ and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 BSTZ and QQQ?
At least 25.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings BSTZ also owns. Our book for BSTZ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in BSTZ and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BSTZ or QQQ?
BSTZ yields 11.58% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so BSTZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BSTZ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. BSTZ led over 1Y and 3Y, QQQ over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.