CSTK vs QQQ
Invesco Comstock Contrarian Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CSTK or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. CSTK is less concentrated, with 30.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | CSTK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $175M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.10% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 117 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +11.55% | +22.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.36% | +24.33%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +29.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.0%Best | 18.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.3%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,189 | $15,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.3%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 7, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 7, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.4 years).
CSTK 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
CSTK vs QQQ Performance
Invesco Comstock Contrarian Equity ETF (CSTK) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year CSTK returned +16.36% while QQQ returned +24.33%. Year to date, CSTK is up 11.55% versus a gain of 22.67% 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 18.8% compared with 11.0% for CSTK. 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 -9.3% for CSTK 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CSTK charges 0.35% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $18 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSTK currently yields 2.10% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
23.9% of CSTK's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 24.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings CSTK also owns.
QQQ and CSTK share little of their money.
13 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in CSTK and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 117 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 83 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for CSTK (73.5% of the fund), and 43 for CSTK that do not appear in QQQ (75.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CSTK | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.22% | 5.88% | 2.66% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.79% | 3.15% | 0.64% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.58% | 4.85% | 3.27% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 3.40% | 1.95% | 1.45% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.70% | 3.07% | 1.37% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 1.86% | 2.28% | 0.42% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.23% | 0.85% | 0.38% |
| NXPINxp Semiconductors Nv Sedol B505Pn7 | 1.75% | 0.26% | 1.49% |
| SBUXStarbucks Corp | 1.35% | 0.50% | 0.85% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 1.42% | 0.36% | 1.06% |
24.2% of QQQ is already inside CSTK.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, CSTK or QQQ?
CSTK has an expense ratio of 0.35% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CSTK or QQQ?
Over the past year CSTK returned +16.36% vs +24.33% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CSTK annualized +21.86% vs +37.36% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CSTK or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 11.0% for CSTK. Worst drawdown: CSTK -9.3% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both CSTK and QQQ?
CSTK and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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 CSTK and QQQ?
24.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings CSTK also owns. 24.2% of QQQ's is in holdings CSTK also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in CSTK and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, CSTK or QQQ?
CSTK yields 2.10% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so CSTK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CSTK?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. CSTK is less concentrated, with 30.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.