PZA vs QQQ

PZA vs QQQ

Which is better, PZA or QQQ?

Municipal Bond against Large Cap Growth.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: QQQ

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

MetricPZAQQQ
Expense Ratio0.28%0.18%Best
AUM$4.1B$506.1B
Dividend Yield4.10%0.42%
Holdings7,125321
YTD Return-5.12%+19.30%Best
1Y Return-4.38%+22.47%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+2.53%+26.18%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-1.29%+15.42%Best
Volatility (annualized)7.0%Best19.0%
Max Drawdown-27.0%Best-53.5%
$10,000 over 5 years$9,371$20,484Best
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Invesco (US)
CategoryTax PreferredEquity
StyleMunicipal BondLarge Cap Growth
InceptionOct 11, 2007Mar 10, 1999

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 11, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (19 years).

PZA 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.

PZA vs QQQ Performance

Invesco National AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (PZA) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PZA returned -4.38% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, PZA is down 5.12% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.

Over three years, PZA compounded at +2.53% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -1.29% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.03% annualized vs +0.09%.

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 7.0% for PZA. 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 -27.0% for PZA 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 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

PZA charges 0.28% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $28 vs $18 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PZA currently yields 4.10% against 0.42% for QQQ.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 952 holdings in PZA and 101 in QQQ, totalling 17.6% 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 952 positions we hold weights for in PZA and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 7,125 and 321.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of PZA and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

PZAQQQ

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, PZA or QQQ?

PZA has an expense ratio of 0.28% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, PZA or QQQ?

Over the past year PZA returned -4.38% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), PZA annualized +0.09% vs +15.03% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, PZA or QQQ?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 7.0% for PZA. Worst drawdown: PZA -27.0% vs QQQ -53.5%.

Should I hold both PZA and QQQ?

PZA and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, 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, PZA or QQQ?

PZA yields 4.10% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so PZA currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is QQQ better than PZA?

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.