CTEF vs QQQ
Castellan Targeted Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, CTEF or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. CTEF led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.2%.
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 | CTEF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $651M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 47 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +31.14%Best | +17.54% |
| 1Y Return | +49.04%Best | +25.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.18% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.4% | 19.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.0% | -12.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $17,713Best | $13,627 |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.2% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Castellan ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.2 years).
CTEF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
CTEF vs QQQ Performance
Castellan Targeted Equity ETF (CTEF) is an ETF from Castellan ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year CTEF returned +49.04% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, CTEF is up 31.14% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CTEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.4% compared with 19.7% 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 -15.0% for CTEF 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CTEF 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, CTEF currently yields 0.06% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
27.8% of CTEF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 22.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings CTEF also owns.
CTEF and QQQ share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTEF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 47 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 89 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for CTEF (75.3% of the fund), and 16 for CTEF that do not appear in QQQ (71.0%).
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 CTEF | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.13% | 8.44% | 4.31% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 5.29% | 4.43% | 0.86% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.58% | 5.76% | 3.18% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 4.97% | 1.69% | 3.28% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 5.17% | 0.53% | 4.64% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp Company Guar 11/28 3 | 4.04% | 0.79% | 3.25% |
| APPAppLovin Corp. Com Cl A | 1.60% | 0.56% | 1.04% |
27.8% of CTEF is already inside QQQ.
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, CTEF or QQQ?
CTEF 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 performed better, CTEF or QQQ?
Over the past year CTEF returned +49.04% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so CTEF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CTEF annualized +61.03% vs +29.42% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CTEF or QQQ?
CTEF has been the more volatile fund at 22.4% annualized versus 19.7% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: CTEF -15.0% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both CTEF and QQQ?
CTEF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 CTEF and QQQ?
27.8% of CTEF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 22.2% of QQQ's is in holdings CTEF also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTEF and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, CTEF or QQQ?
CTEF yields 0.06% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than CTEF?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. CTEF led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.