PFXF vs QQQ
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PFXF or QQQ?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | PFXF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2.3B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.29% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 240 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +0.17% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.60% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.76% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.47% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1%Best | 17.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -37.3% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,298 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 16, 2012 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 17, 2012 to Oct 14, 2026 (14.2 years).
PFXF 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.
PFXF vs QQQ Performance
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (PFXF) is an ETF from VanEck and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PFXF returned +2.60% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, PFXF is up 0.17% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, PFXF compounded at +9.76% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +2.47% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.97% annualized vs +1.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 10.1% for PFXF. 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 -37.3% for PFXF 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFXF charges 0.40% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $18 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFXF currently yields 6.29% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
7.7% of PFXF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings PFXF also owns.
PFXF and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 114 positions we hold weights for in PFXF and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 240 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PFXF (96.0% of the fund), and 109 for PFXF that do not appear in QQQ (85.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFXF | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSTRMicrostrategy Inc Common | 7.68% | 0.23% | 7.45% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFXF 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, PFXF or QQQ?
PFXF has an expense ratio of 0.40% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFXF or QQQ?
Over the past year PFXF returned +2.60% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), PFXF annualized +1.53% vs +18.97% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFXF or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 10.1% for PFXF. Worst drawdown: PFXF -37.3% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PFXF and QQQ?
PFXF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 PFXF and QQQ?
7.7% of PFXF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.2% of QQQ's is in holdings PFXF also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 114 positions we hold weights for in PFXF and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFXF or QQQ?
PFXF yields 6.29% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so PFXF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PFXF?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.