CAIE vs QQQ
Calamos Autocallable Income ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CAIE or QQQ?
Long Term Mid Quality against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y 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 | CAIE | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.74% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 14.20% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 6 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +9.30% | +17.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.72% | +22.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.8%Best | 19.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.7%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,522 | $13,221Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Mid Quality | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.2 years).
CAIE 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
CAIE vs QQQ Performance
Calamos Autocallable Income ETF (CAIE) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year CAIE returned +12.72% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, CAIE is up 9.30% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 10.8% for CAIE. 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 -7.7% for CAIE and -12.0% 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CAIE charges 0.74% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $74 vs $18 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CAIE currently yields 14.20% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in CAIE and 102 in QQQ, totalling 85.0% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 1 positions we hold weights for in CAIE and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 6 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CAIE 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, CAIE or QQQ?
CAIE has an expense ratio of 0.74% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CAIE or QQQ?
Over the past year CAIE returned +12.72% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CAIE annualized +20.61% vs +26.20% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CAIE or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 10.8% for CAIE. Worst drawdown: CAIE -7.7% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both CAIE and QQQ?
CAIE and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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, CAIE or QQQ?
CAIE yields 14.20% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so CAIE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CAIE?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.