PSTR vs QQQ
PeakShares Sector Rotation ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PSTR or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.4%.
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 | PSTR | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.06% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $67M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.95% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 340 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +12.31% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.84% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +26.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.42% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.8%Best | 17.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.7%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $14,552 | $17,567Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.4% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | PeakShares LLC | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 30, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 30, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.5 years).
PSTR 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 covers the 2.5 years both funds cover.
PSTR vs QQQ Performance
PeakShares Sector Rotation ETF (PSTR) is an ETF from PeakShares LLC and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PSTR returned +15.84% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, PSTR is up 12.31% 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 17.3% compared with 7.8% for PSTR. 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 -13.7% for PSTR and -22.8% 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSTR charges 1.06% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $106 vs $18 annually, a gap of $88 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSTR currently yields 4.95% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
15.7% of PSTR's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 52.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings PSTR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
20 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PSTR and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 340 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 74 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PSTR (44.6% of the fund), and 73 for PSTR that do not appear in QQQ (81.3%).
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 PSTR | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 1.97% | 8.33% | 6.36% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.79% | 5.76% | 2.97% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.74% | 7.35% | 6.61% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.24% | 5.02% | 3.78% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.47% | 3.26% | 0.79% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.46% | 4.07% | 2.61% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.37% | 4.17% | 3.80% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.44% | 2.85% | 1.41% |
| SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies | 0.23% | 2.70% | 2.47% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.26% | 2.53% | 2.27% |
52.4% of QQQ is already inside PSTR.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PSTR or QQQ?
PSTR has an expense ratio of 1.06% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $88 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSTR or QQQ?
Over the past year PSTR returned +15.84% 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, PSTR or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 7.8% for PSTR. Worst drawdown: PSTR -13.7% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both PSTR and QQQ?
PSTR and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 PSTR and QQQ?
52.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings PSTR also owns. 52.4% of QQQ's is in holdings PSTR also owns. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PSTR and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PSTR or QQQ?
PSTR yields 4.95% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so PSTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PSTR?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.