PIFI vs QQQ
ClearShares Piton Intermediate Fixed Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PIFI or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
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 | PIFI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $96M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.62% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 58 | 321 |
| YTD Return | -1.26% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.90% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.48% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.55% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.8%Best | 20.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.6%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,278 | $20,484Best |
| Fund Family | ClearShares ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 1, 2020 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 2, 2020 to Oct 14, 2026 (6 years).
PIFI 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.
PIFI vs QQQ Performance
ClearShares Piton Intermediate Fixed Income ETF (PIFI) is an ETF from ClearShares ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PIFI returned -0.90% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, PIFI is down 1.26% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, PIFI compounded at +3.48% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +0.55% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.24% annualized vs +0.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.0% compared with 3.8% for PIFI. 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 -10.6% for PIFI 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PIFI charges 0.45% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $18 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PIFI currently yields 3.62% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 50 holdings in PIFI and 101 in QQQ, totalling 90.3% 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 50 positions we hold weights for in PIFI and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 58 and 321.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PIFI 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, PIFI or QQQ?
PIFI has an expense ratio of 0.45% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PIFI or QQQ?
Over the past year PIFI returned -0.90% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), PIFI annualized +0.30% vs +18.24% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PIFI or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.0% annualized versus 3.8% for PIFI. Worst drawdown: PIFI -10.6% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both PIFI and QQQ?
PIFI and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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, PIFI or QQQ?
PIFI yields 3.62% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so PIFI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PIFI?
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.