BCV vs QQQ
Bancroft Fund Ltd vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BCV or QQQ?
Convertibles against Large Cap Growth.
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 | BCV | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.11% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $178M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.69% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 86 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +10.08% | +17.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.17% | +22.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.67% | +25.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.05% | +14.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6%Best | 21.7% |
| Max Drawdown | - | -73.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,621 | $19,766Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 4, 1971 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2000 to Sep 17, 2026 (25.8 years).
BCV 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 25.8 years both funds cover.
BCV vs QQQ Performance
Bancroft Fund Ltd (BCV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BCV returned +12.17% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, BCV is up 10.08% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Over three years, BCV compounded at +20.67% per year against +25.27% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.05% and +14.60% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +9.58% annualized vs +2.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.7% compared with 16.6% for BCV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BCV charges 1.11% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $111 vs $18 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BCV currently yields 3.69% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings BCV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BCV, our book for it covers 55.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, BCV as of Mar 31, 2026 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in BCV and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 86 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BCV | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 2.54% | 0.19% | 2.35% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BCV and QQQ 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, BCV or QQQ?
BCV has an expense ratio of 1.11% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BCV or QQQ?
Over the past year BCV returned +12.17% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), BCV annualized +2.48% vs +9.58% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BCV or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.7% annualized versus 16.6% for BCV.
Should I hold both BCV and QQQ?
BCV and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, BCV or QQQ?
BCV yields 3.69% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so BCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BCV?
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.