QQQ vs TBLD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Thornburg Income Builder Opportunities Trust
Which is better, QQQ or TBLD?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ 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 | TBLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.65% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $727M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 5.51% |
| Holdings | 321 | 216 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +4.05% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +4.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18%Best | +19.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42%Best | +7.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -33.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484Best | $14,443 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Thornburg Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jul 27, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 28, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5.2 years).
QQQ vs TBLD 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 5.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs TBLD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Thornburg Income Builder Opportunities Trust (TBLD) is an ETF from Thornburg Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while TBLD returned +4.96%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 4.05% for TBLD.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +19.71% for TBLD; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and +7.63% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.7% compared with 15.5% for TBLD. 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 -33.6% for TBLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while TBLD charges 1.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $165 annually, a gap of $147 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 5.51% for TBLD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 14.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings TBLD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for TBLD, our book for it covers 84.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and TBLD share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, QQQ as of Oct 1, 2026 and TBLD as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
6 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 117 in TBLD, against full books of 321 and 216.
Top Shared Holdings
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and TBLD 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 TBLD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while TBLD charges 1.65%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $147 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or TBLD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +4.96% for TBLD, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or TBLD?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.7% annualized versus 15.5% for TBLD. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs TBLD -33.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and TBLD?
QQQ and TBLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 QQQ and TBLD?
At least 14.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings TBLD also owns. Our book for TBLD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 117 in TBLD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or TBLD?
QQQ yields 0.42% while TBLD yields 5.51%, so TBLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TBLD better than QQQ?
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.