PTLC vs QQQ
Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PTLC or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PTLC led over the full window, QQQ over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. PTLC is less concentrated, with 38.3% 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 | PTLC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3.4B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 1,011 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +7.83% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.30% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.56% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.91% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 64965.8% | 18.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | - | -53.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,039 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.3%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2015 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 22, 2005 to Oct 14, 2026 (20.8 years).
PTLC 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.
PTLC vs QQQ Performance
Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF (PTLC) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PTLC returned +10.30% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, PTLC is up 7.83% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, PTLC compounded at +14.56% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +9.91% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, PTLC has the edge at +36.61% annualized vs +14.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PTLC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 64965.8% compared with 18.5% for QQQ. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.06. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PTLC charges 0.60% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $18 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PTLC currently yields 0.99% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
53.0% of PTLC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 89.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings PTLC also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside PTLC. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
83 positions in common, counted across the 503 positions we hold weights for in PTLC and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 1,011 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PTLC (7.3% of the fund), and 415 for PTLC that do not appear in QQQ (46.8%).
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 PTLC | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.03% | 8.33% | 0.30% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.41% | 7.35% | 0.06% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.59% | 5.76% | 0.17% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.82% | 4.07% | 0.25% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.67% | 5.02% | 3.35% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc-cl A | 3.01% | 3.05% | 0.04% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 1.28% | 4.17% | 2.89% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.16% | 3.26% | 1.10% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc.- Cl C | 2.41% | 2.85% | 0.44% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.60% | 2.53% | 0.07% |
89.0% of QQQ is already inside PTLC.
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, PTLC or QQQ?
PTLC has an expense ratio of 0.60% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PTLC or QQQ?
Over the past year PTLC returned +10.30% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), PTLC annualized +36.61% vs +14.96% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PTLC or QQQ?
PTLC has been the more volatile fund at 64965.8% annualized versus 18.5% for QQQ.
Should I hold both PTLC and QQQ?
PTLC and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of -0.06, 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 PTLC and QQQ?
89.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings PTLC also owns. 89.0% of QQQ's is in holdings PTLC also owns. They hold 83 positions in common, counted across the 503 positions we hold weights for in PTLC and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PTLC or QQQ?
PTLC yields 0.99% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so PTLC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PTLC?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. PTLC led over the full window, QQQ over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. PTLC is less concentrated, with 38.3% 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.