BTO vs QQQ
John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BTO or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
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 | BTO | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.96% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $784M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.58% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 184 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +6.31% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.64% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.15% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.60% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.0% | 18.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -95.5% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,934 | $20,484Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 18, 1994 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 16, 2003 to Oct 14, 2026 (22.8 years).
BTO 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 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.
BTO vs QQQ Performance
John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (BTO) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BTO returned +6.64% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, BTO is up 6.31% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, BTO compounded at +21.15% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.60% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.41% annualized vs -4.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BTO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.0% compared with 18.2% 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 -95.5% for BTO and -53.5% 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 0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BTO charges 2.96% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $296 vs $18 annually, a gap of $278 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BTO currently yields 6.58% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings BTO also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for BTO, our book for it lists positions totalling 110.9% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
QQQ and BTO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 274 days apart, BTO 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 134 positions we hold weights for in BTO and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 184 and 321.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BTO | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTOCostco Wholesale Corp | 0.22% | 1.69% | 1.47% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BTO and QQQ 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, BTO or QQQ?
BTO has an expense ratio of 2.96% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $278 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BTO or QQQ?
Over the past year BTO returned +6.64% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), BTO annualized -4.52% vs +14.41% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BTO or QQQ?
BTO has been the more volatile fund at 31.0% annualized versus 18.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: BTO -95.5% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both BTO and QQQ?
BTO and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.43, 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 BTO and QQQ?
At least 1.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings BTO also owns. Our book for BTO is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 134 positions we hold weights for in BTO and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BTO or QQQ?
BTO yields 6.58% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so BTO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BTO?
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.