CHY vs QQQ
Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CHY or QQQ?
Convertibles against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. CHY 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 | CHY | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.84% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.97% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 620 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +17.06%Best | +15.86% |
| 1Y Return | +24.60%Best | +22.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.74% | +24.15%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.77% | +14.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 18.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -66.9% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,624 | $19,390Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 28, 2003 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2003 to Sep 10, 2026 (23.3 years).
CHY 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
CHY vs QQQ Performance
Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund (CHY) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year CHY returned +24.60% while QQQ returned +22.63%. Year to date, CHY is up 17.06% versus a gain of 15.86% for QQQ.
Over three years, CHY compounded at +13.74% per year against +24.15% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +4.77% and +14.16% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.84% annualized vs +1.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CHY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 18.1% 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 -66.9% for CHY and -53.5% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CHY charges 1.84% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $184 vs $18 annually, a gap of $166 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CHY currently yields 3.97% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings CHY also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for CHY, our book for it lists positions totalling 120.2% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
QQQ and CHY share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 278 days apart, CHY as of Oct 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 512 positions we hold weights for in CHY and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 620 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CHY 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, CHY or QQQ?
CHY has an expense ratio of 1.84% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $166 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CHY or QQQ?
Over the past year CHY returned +24.60% vs +22.63% for QQQ, so CHY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), CHY annualized +1.43% vs +14.84% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CHY or QQQ?
CHY has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 18.1% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: CHY -66.9% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both CHY and QQQ?
CHY and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 CHY and QQQ?
At least 1.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings CHY also owns. Our book for CHY is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 512 positions we hold weights for in CHY and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, CHY or QQQ?
CHY yields 3.97% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so CHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CHY?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. CHY 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.