BCAT vs QQQ
BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BCAT or QQQ?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. BCAT led over 1Y, QQQ over 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 | BCAT | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.41% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 22.04% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 917 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +28.57%Best | +17.44% |
| 1Y Return | +29.99%Best | +24.69% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.97% | +24.76%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.85% | +14.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 20.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -36.1% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,281 | $19,441Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2020 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 25, 2020 to Sep 8, 2026 (6 years).
BCAT vs QQQ 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 6 years both funds cover.
BCAT vs QQQ Performance
BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust (BCAT) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BCAT returned +29.99% while QQQ returned +24.69%. Year to date, BCAT is up 28.57% versus a gain of 17.44% for QQQ.
Over three years, BCAT compounded at +23.97% per year against +24.76% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.85% and +14.22% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.40% annualized vs +9.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 14.7% for BCAT. 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 -36.1% for BCAT and -35.1% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BCAT charges 1.41% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $141 vs $18 annually, a gap of $123 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BCAT currently yields 22.04% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 65.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings BCAT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BCAT, our book for it covers 66.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 217 days apart, BCAT as of Dec 31, 2025 and QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
28 positions in common, counted across the 316 positions we hold weights for in BCAT and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 917 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BCAT | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.35% | 8.44% | 6.09% |
| AAPLApple Inc Ord | 1.93% | 7.27% | 5.34% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.10% | 5.76% | 2.66% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.36% | 4.67% | 2.31% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc., Class C | 2.48% | 3.13% | 0.65% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.14% | 4.43% | 3.29% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.31% | 3.16% | 1.85% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 0.93% | 2.78% | 1.85% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 1.11% | 2.41% | 1.30% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.02% | 3.45% | 3.43% |
65.0% of QQQ is already inside BCAT.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BCAT or QQQ?
BCAT has an expense ratio of 1.41% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $123 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BCAT or QQQ?
Over the past year BCAT returned +29.99% vs +24.69% for QQQ, so BCAT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BCAT annualized +9.50% vs +18.40% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BCAT or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 14.7% for BCAT. Worst drawdown: BCAT -36.1% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both BCAT and QQQ?
BCAT and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 BCAT and QQQ?
At least 65.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings BCAT also owns. Our book for BCAT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 28 positions in common, counted across the 316 positions we hold weights for in BCAT and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BCAT or QQQ?
BCAT yields 22.04% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so BCAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BCAT?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. BCAT led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.