CIL vs QQQ
VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CIL or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. CIL led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. CIL is less concentrated, with 3.7% 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 | CIL | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $31M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.51% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 513 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 29.0% | 18.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.1% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 10.5 years | $21,748 | $58,650Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.7%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Victory Capital Management Inc. | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 20, 2015 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 236 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. CIL has data through Feb 4, 2026 and QQQ through Sep 28, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 10.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 20, 2015 to Feb 4, 2026 (10.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CIL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 29.0% compared with 18.3% 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 -46.1% for CIL 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 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CIL charges 0.45% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $18 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CIL currently yields 2.51% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
0.5% of CIL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings CIL also owns.
QQQ and CIL share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 309 days apart, CIL as of Sep 30, 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in CIL and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 513 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for CIL (97.1% of the fund), and 5 for CIL that do not appear in QQQ (1.2%).
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 CIL 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, CIL or QQQ?
CIL has an expense ratio of 0.45% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, CIL or QQQ?
CIL has been the more volatile fund at 29.0% annualized versus 18.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: CIL -46.1% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both CIL and QQQ?
CIL and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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 CIL and QQQ?
1.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings CIL also owns. 1.4% of QQQ's is in holdings CIL also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in CIL and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, CIL or QQQ?
CIL yields 2.51% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so CIL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CIL?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. CIL led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. CIL is less concentrated, with 3.7% 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.