MUNX vs QQQ

MUNX vs QQQ

Which is better, MUNX or QQQ?

Municipal Bond against Large Cap Growth.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns (1Y): QQQ

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

MetricMUNXQQQ
Expense Ratio0.29%0.18%Best
AUM$18M$506.1B
Dividend Yield3.08%0.42%
Holdings75321
YTD Return-3.58%+19.30%Best
1Y Return-2.91%+22.47%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+26.18%
5Y Return (annualized)-+15.42%
Volatility (annualized)6.0%Best21.9%
Fund FamilyAMG FundsInvesco (US)
CategoryTax PreferredEquity
StyleMunicipal BondLarge Cap Growth
InceptionOct 29, 2025Mar 10, 1999

Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

MUNX 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.

MUNX vs QQQ Performance

AMG GW&K Muni Income ETF (MUNX) is an ETF from AMG Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year MUNX returned -2.91% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, MUNX is down 3.58% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.9% compared with 6.0% for MUNX. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

MUNX charges 0.29% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $18 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MUNX currently yields 3.08% against 0.42% for QQQ.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 33 holdings in MUNX and 101 in QQQ, totalling 41.9% and 99.6% 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 33 positions we hold weights for in MUNX and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 75 and 321.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of MUNX and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

MUNXQQQ

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, MUNX or QQQ?

MUNX has an expense ratio of 0.29% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, MUNX or QQQ?

Over the past year MUNX returned -2.91% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, MUNX or QQQ?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.9% annualized versus 6.0% for MUNX.

Should I hold both MUNX and QQQ?

MUNX and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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, MUNX or QQQ?

MUNX yields 3.08% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so MUNX currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is QQQ better than MUNX?

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.