PMBMX vs. QQQ
PMBMX (Principal MidCap Fund) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ ETF) are both funds - PMBMX is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund managed by Principal, while QQQ is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. Over the past 10 years, PMBMX returned 11.39%/yr vs 21.94%/yr for QQQ. A 0.78 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. PMBMX charges 1.15%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for QQQ.
Performance
PMBMX vs. QQQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PMBMX achieves a -7.57% return, which is significantly lower than QQQ's 21.30% return. Over the past 10 years, PMBMX has underperformed QQQ with an annualized return of 11.39%, while QQQ has yielded a comparatively higher 21.94% annualized return.
PMBMX
- 1D
- -0.58%
- 1M
- 1.82%
- YTD
- -7.57%
- 6M
- -8.19%
- 1Y
- -9.08%
- 3Y*
- 9.81%
- 5Y*
- 4.75%
- 10Y*
- 11.39%
QQQ
- 1D
- -0.26%
- 1M
- 10.60%
- YTD
- 21.30%
- 6M
- 19.66%
- 1Y
- 41.82%
- 3Y*
- 28.78%
- 5Y*
- 17.97%
- 10Y*
- 21.94%
PMBMX vs. QQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PMBMX Principal MidCap Fund | -7.57% | 1.16% | 23.38% | 25.36% | -23.52% | 24.63% | 17.69% | 49.09% | -7.28% | 24.73% |
QQQ Invesco QQQ ETF | 21.30% | 20.77% | 25.58% | 54.86% | -32.58% | 27.42% | 48.62% | 38.96% | -0.13% | 32.66% |
Correlation
The correlation between PMBMX and QQQ is 0.50, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 7, 2000 | 0.78 |
Over the past year, the correlation between PMBMX and QQQ has dropped to 0.50 - well below their long-term average of 0.78, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
PMBMX vs. QQQ — Risk / Return Rank
PMBMX
QQQ
PMBMX vs. QQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal MidCap Fund (PMBMX) and Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| PMBMX | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -4.24 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.91 | 1.45 | -0.54 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.45 | 3.51 | -3.96 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.99 | 13.49 | -14.48 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| PMBMX | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.61 | 2.64 | -3.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.26 | 0.81 | -0.55 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.60 | 0.99 | -0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.56 | 0.41 | +0.15 |
Drawdowns
PMBMX vs. QQQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PMBMX drawdown since its inception was -50.69%, smaller than the maximum QQQ drawdown of -82.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PMBMX and QQQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PMBMX | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.69% | -82.97% | +32.28% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.53% | -11.96% | -7.57% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.53% | -22.77% | +3.24% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.48% | -35.12% | +3.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.60% | -35.12% | -5.48% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -13.76% | -0.26% | -13.50% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.72% | -32.79% | +26.07% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.83% | 3.11% | +5.72% |
Volatility
PMBMX vs. QQQ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal MidCap Fund (PMBMX) is 4.06%, while Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ) has a volatility of 4.49%. This indicates that PMBMX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than QQQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PMBMX | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.06% | 4.49% | -0.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.17% | 12.10% | -0.93% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.24% | 15.94% | -1.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.65% | 22.38% | -3.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.18% | 22.29% | -3.11% |
PMBMX vs. QQQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
PMBMX has a 1.15% expense ratio, which is higher than QQQ's 0.18% expense ratio.
Dividends
PMBMX vs. QQQ - Dividend Comparison
PMBMX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.93%, more than QQQ's 0.38% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PMBMX Principal MidCap Fund | 6.93% | 6.41% | 6.86% | 2.68% | 3.43% | 8.51% | 1.15% | 9.00% | 12.79% | 3.39% | 2.16% | 6.38% |
QQQ Invesco QQQ ETF | 0.38% | 0.45% | 0.56% | 0.62% | 0.80% | 0.43% | 0.55% | 0.74% | 0.91% | 0.84% | 1.06% | 0.99% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PMBMX and QQQ have a correlation of 0.50, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
QQQ has higher volatility (4.49%) compared to PMBMX (4.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PMBMX dropped -50.69% vs QQQ's -82.97%.
QQQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.64 vs -0.61), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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