PDN vs QQQ
Invesco FTSE RAFI Developed Markets ex-US Small-Mid ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PDN or QQQ?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PDN is less concentrated, with 2.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.
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 | PDN | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $348M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.28% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 1,591 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +8.82% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.27% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.50% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.62% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1%Best | 19.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -60.1% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,778 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 2.3%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 27, 2007 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 27, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (19 years).
PDN 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.
PDN vs QQQ Performance
Invesco FTSE RAFI Developed Markets ex-US Small-Mid ETF (PDN) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PDN returned +15.27% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, PDN is up 8.82% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, PDN compounded at +19.50% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +6.62% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.12% annualized vs +3.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% compared with 18.1% for PDN. 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 -60.1% for PDN 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PDN charges 0.47% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $18 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PDN currently yields 3.28% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of PDN's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings PDN also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 1,550 positions we hold weights for in PDN and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 1,591 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PDN (95.8% of the fund), and 35 for PDN that do not appear in QQQ (2.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PDN 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, PDN or QQQ?
PDN has an expense ratio of 0.47% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PDN or QQQ?
Over the past year PDN returned +15.27% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), PDN annualized +3.93% vs +15.12% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PDN or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 18.1% for PDN. Worst drawdown: PDN -60.1% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both PDN and QQQ?
PDN and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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, PDN or QQQ?
PDN yields 3.28% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so PDN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PDN?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PDN is less concentrated, with 2.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.