QQQ vs SLQD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares 0-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SLQD?
QQQ has been ahead.
SLQD 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 | QQQ | SLQD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $506.1B | $2.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 4.44% |
| Holdings | 321 | 3,087 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +0.81% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +1.67% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18%Best | +5.35% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42%Best | +2.61% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 2.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -12.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484Best | $11,375 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 15, 2013 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 17, 2013 to Oct 14, 2026 (13 years).
QQQ vs SLQD 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.
QQQ vs SLQD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares 0-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (SLQD) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while SLQD returned +1.67%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 0.81% for SLQD.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +5.35% for SLQD; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and +2.61% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.75% annualized vs +1.33%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 2.3% for SLQD. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -12.7% for SLQD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SLQD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $6 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 4.44% for SLQD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings SLQD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SLQD, our book for it covers 84.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 2,582 in SLQD, against full books of 321 and 3,087.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SLQD 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, QQQ or SLQD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SLQD charges 0.06%. SLQD is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SLQD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +1.67% for SLQD, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), QQQ annualized +18.75% vs +1.33% for SLQD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SLQD?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 2.3% for SLQD. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SLQD -12.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SLQD?
QQQ and SLQD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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, QQQ or SLQD?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SLQD yields 4.44%, so SLQD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SLQD better than QQQ?
SLQD 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.