QQQ vs SPLS
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs PIMCO US Stocks PLUS Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund
Which is better, QQQ or SPLS?
Large Cap Growth against Allocation/Balanced.
QQQ led over 1Y 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 | SPLS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Tie | 0.18%Tie |
| AUM | $506.1B | $88M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.54% |
| Holdings | 321 | 3 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +10.71% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +10.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8%Best | 123.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -49.5%Best | -64.9% |
| $10,000 over 18.8 years | $149,911Best | $33,489 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | PIMCO (US) |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 18.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 2008 to Oct 14, 2026 (18.8 years).
QQQ vs SPLS 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 18.8 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SPLS Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and PIMCO US Stocks PLUS Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund (SPLS) is an ETF from PIMCO (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while SPLS returned +10.71%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 10.71% for SPLS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPLS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 123.5% compared with 18.8% for QQQ. 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 -49.5% for QQQ and -64.9% for SPLS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.12. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPLS charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $18 annually. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.54% for SPLS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 3 in SPLS, totalling 99.6% and 98.3% 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 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 3 in SPLS, against full books of 321 and 3.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SPLS 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 SPLS?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPLS charges 0.18%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPLS?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +10.71% for SPLS, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +15.49% vs +6.64% for SPLS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPLS?
SPLS has been the more volatile fund at 123.5% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -49.5% vs SPLS -64.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPLS?
QQQ and SPLS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.12, 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 SPLS?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SPLS yields 0.54%, so SPLS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPLS better than QQQ?
QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.