COWS vs QQQ
Amplify Cash Flow Dividend Leaders ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, COWS or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. COWS is less concentrated, with 32.4% 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 | COWS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $43M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.46% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 42 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +10.86% | +21.16%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.08% | +24.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.59% | +27.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8%Best | 17.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.8% | -22.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $15,573 | $20,009Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.4%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 13, 2023 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2023 to Sep 24, 2026 (3 years).
COWS 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 3 years both funds cover.
COWS vs QQQ Performance
Amplify Cash Flow Dividend Leaders ETF (COWS) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year COWS returned +16.08% while QQQ returned +24.78%. Year to date, COWS is up 10.86% versus a gain of 21.16% for QQQ.
Over three years, COWS compounded at +16.59% per year against +27.95% 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 17.3% compared with 16.8% for COWS. 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 -24.8% for COWS and -22.8% 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
COWS charges 0.19% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $18 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, COWS currently yields 1.46% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
12.5% of COWS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings COWS also owns.
COWS and QQQ share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in COWS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 42 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 41 and 102 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 92 positions COWS does not, 95.5% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.44%, AAPL 7.27%, MSFT 5.76%, AMZN 4.67%, MU 4.43%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of COWS 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, COWS or QQQ?
COWS has an expense ratio of 0.19% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, COWS or QQQ?
Over the past year COWS returned +16.08% vs +24.78% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, COWS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 16.8% for COWS. Worst drawdown: COWS -24.8% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both COWS and QQQ?
COWS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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 COWS and QQQ?
12.5% of COWS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.1% of QQQ's is in holdings COWS also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in COWS and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, COWS or QQQ?
COWS yields 1.46% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so COWS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than COWS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. COWS is less concentrated, with 32.4% 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.