XMHQ vs. PPA

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

XMHQ (Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF) and PPA (Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XMHQ is a Quality Factor fund tracking the S&P MidCap 400 Quality Index, while PPA is a Aerospace & Defense fund tracking the SPADE Defense Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XMHQ returned 12.81%/yr vs 17.46%/yr for PPA. Their 0.72 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. XMHQ charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.58%/yr for PPA.

Performance

XMHQ vs. PPA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF (XMHQ) and Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with XMHQ having a 13.81% return and PPA slightly higher at 14.49%. Over the past 10 years, XMHQ has underperformed PPA with an annualized return of 12.81%, while PPA has yielded a comparatively higher 17.46% annualized return.

XMHQ

• 1D: 1.13%
• 1M: 2.55%
• 6M: 8.92%
• YTD: 13.81%
• 1Y: 17.48%
• 3Y*: 14.23%
• 5Y*: 10.44%
• 10Y*: 12.81%
• ALL TIME*: 9.54%

PPA

• 1D: 2.69%
• 1M: -1.07%
• 6M: 3.22%
• YTD: 14.49%
• 1Y: 23.96%
• 3Y*: 29.15%
• 5Y*: 20.46%
• 10Y*: 17.46%
• ALL TIME*: 13.75%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
PPA Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF	$32.88M	$30.28M	$35.30M
XMHQ Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF	$19.09M	$19.28M	$20.51M

XMHQ vs. PPA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
XMHQ Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF	13.81%	4.71%	16.79%	29.51%	-12.42%	20.98%	26.61%	27.18%	-9.08%	15.64%
PPA Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF	14.49%	37.15%	25.28%	18.41%	9.52%	7.09%	0.45%	39.63%	-7.51%	30.10%

Correlation

The correlation between XMHQ and PPA is 0.60, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.60
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.67
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.72
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.	0.70
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 1, 2006	0.72

The correlation between XMHQ and PPA shifts across timeframes, from 0.60 (1 year) to 0.72 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

XMHQ vs. PPA - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XMHQ	PPA
Industrials	30.2%	88.1%
Technology	18.5%	9.9%
Healthcare	16.0%	-
Financial Services	15.1%	0.1%
Consumer Cyclical	9.4%	0.3%
Energy	6.9%	-
Utilities	2.2%	-
Basic Materials	1.5%	1.9%
Communication Services	1.4%	0.2%
Consumer Defensive	1.1%	-
Real Estate	-	-

Return for Risk

XMHQ vs. PPA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

XMHQ

XMHQ Risk / Return Rank: 48
XMHQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 46
XMHQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 48
XMHQ Omega Ratio Rank: 42
XMHQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 54
XMHQ Martin Ratio Rank: 50

PPA

PPA Risk / Return Rank: 45
PPA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 46
PPA Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
PPA Omega Ratio Rank: 43
PPA Calmar Ratio Rank: 48
PPA Martin Ratio Rank: 41

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

XMHQ vs. PPA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF (XMHQ) and Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	XMHQ	PPA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.16	1.15	+0.01
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.76	1.73	+0.03
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.20	1.20	0.00
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.98	1.76	+0.23
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.90	4.46	+1.44

XMHQ vs. PPA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XMHQ Sharpe Ratio is 1.16, which is comparable to the PPA Sharpe Ratio of 1.15. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XMHQ and PPA, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

XMHQ vs. PPA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XMHQ drawdown since its inception was -58.19%, roughly equal to the maximum PPA drawdown of -57.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XMHQ and PPA.

Drawdown Indicators

	XMHQ	PPA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-58.19%	-57.37%	-0.82%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.85%	-13.71%	+4.86%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-24.56%	-15.24%	-9.32%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-25.47%	-18.37%	-7.10%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-36.90%	-43.92%	+7.02%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-3.37%	+3.37%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.22%	-9.16%	-0.06%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.97%	5.38%	-2.41%

Volatility

XMHQ vs. PPA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF (XMHQ) is 3.28%, while Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA) has a volatility of 7.01%. This indicates that XMHQ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PPA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XMHQ	PPA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.28%	7.01%	-3.73%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.03%	17.04%	-6.01%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.18%	21.03%	-5.85%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.58%	18.80%	+1.78%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.64%	20.82%	-0.18%

XMHQ vs. PPA - Expense Ratio Comparison

XMHQ has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than PPA's 0.58% expense ratio.

Dividends

XMHQ vs. PPA - Dividend Comparison

XMHQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.56%, more than PPA's 0.36% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PPA Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF	0.36%	0.42%	0.61%	0.67%	0.83%	0.59%	0.88%	0.95%	0.90%	0.67%	1.70%	1.41%
XMHQ Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF	0.56%	0.64%	5.20%	0.73%	1.72%	1.00%	1.12%	1.22%	1.59%	1.06%	1.63%	1.34%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XMHQ and PPA in my portfolio?

XMHQ and PPA have a correlation of 0.60, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, XMHQ or PPA?

PPA has higher volatility (7.01%) compared to XMHQ (3.28%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XMHQ dropped -58.19% vs PPA's -57.37%.

Which ETF is better, XMHQ or PPA?

On 10-year performance, PPA leads with 17.46% vs 12.81% for XMHQ. On fees, XMHQ is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, XMHQ has been the lower-risk option at 3.28%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, XMHQ or PPA?

Over the 10-year period, PPA has performed better with a 17.46% return vs 12.81%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XMHQ or PPA?

XMHQ is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.58% for PPA.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, XMHQ or PPA?

XMHQ has the higher dividend yield at 0.56%, compared with 0.36% for PPA.

What is the main difference between XMHQ and PPA?

XMHQ is categorized as Quality Factor, while PPA is Aerospace & Defense. XMHQ tracks S&P MidCap 400 Quality Index, while PPA tracks SPADE Defense Index. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for XMHQ and 0.58% for PPA.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

XMHQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.16 vs 1.15), 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.