CALF vs QQQ
Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CALF or QQQ?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. CALF led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. CALF is less concentrated, with 20.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | CALF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.12% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 200 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +24.95%Best | +16.87% |
| 1Y Return | +26.82%Best | +22.98% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.00% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.08% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.4% | 19.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.6% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,078 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.1%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2017 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 19, 2017 to Sep 11, 2026 (9.2 years).
CALF 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 9.2 years both funds cover.
CALF vs QQQ Performance
Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows ETF (CALF) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year CALF returned +26.82% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, CALF is up 24.95% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, CALF compounded at +11.00% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +7.08% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.70% annualized vs +10.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CALF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.4% compared with 19.6% for QQQ. 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 -47.6% for CALF 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CALF charges 0.59% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $18 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CALF currently yields 1.12% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 199 holdings in CALF and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 199 positions we hold weights for in CALF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 200 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for CALF (97.0% of the fund), and 195 for CALF that do not appear in QQQ (97.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CALF 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, CALF or QQQ?
CALF has an expense ratio of 0.59% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CALF or QQQ?
Over the past year CALF returned +26.82% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so CALF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), CALF annualized +10.49% vs +19.70% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CALF or QQQ?
CALF has been the more volatile fund at 23.4% annualized versus 19.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: CALF -47.6% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both CALF and QQQ?
CALF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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, CALF or QQQ?
CALF yields 1.12% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so CALF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CALF?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. CALF led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. CALF is less concentrated, with 20.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.