ECAT vs QQQ

ECAT vs QQQ

Which is better, ECAT or QQQ?

Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Growth.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: QQQ

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

MetricECATQQQ
Expense Ratio1.43%0.18%Best
AUM$1.5B$483.5B
Dividend Yield22.11%0.44%
Holdings1,008107
YTD Return+8.33%+17.95%Best
1Y Return+8.67%+21.77%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+19.07%+25.63%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+8.32%+15.24%Best
Volatility (annualized)17.7%Best20.9%
Max Drawdown-32.2%Best-35.1%
$10,000 over 5 years$14,912$20,324Best
Fund FamilyBlackRock, Inc. (US)Invesco (US)
CategoryAllocation/BalancedEquity
StyleEquity-oriented BalancedLarge Cap Growth
InceptionSep 28, 2021Mar 10, 1999

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 28, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (5 years).

ECAT 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 5 years both funds cover.

ECAT vs QQQ Performance

BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust (ECAT) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year ECAT returned +8.67% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, ECAT is up 8.33% versus a gain of 17.95% for QQQ.

Over three years, ECAT compounded at +19.07% per year against +25.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.32% and +15.24% respectively.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% compared with 17.7% for ECAT. 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 -32.2% for ECAT 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

ECAT charges 1.43% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $143 vs $18 annually, a gap of $125 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECAT currently yields 22.11% against 0.44% for QQQ.

Holdings Overlap

QQQ already in ECAT63.3%

At least 63.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings ECAT also owns.

Stated as a floor: for ECAT, our book for it covers 79.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

The two portfolios partly overlap.

The two holdings books were reported 217 days apart, ECAT as of Dec 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.

28 positions in common, counted across the 549 positions we hold weights for in ECAT and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1,008 and 107.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in ECATWeight in QQQDifference
NVDANvidia Corp4.02%8.44%4.42%
AAPLApple, Inc2.61%7.27%4.66%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp3.85%5.76%1.91%
GOOGAlphabet Inc3.04%3.13%0.09%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc1.30%4.67%3.37%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.0.96%4.43%3.47%
AVGOBroadcom Inc1.45%3.16%1.71%
METAMeta Platforms Inc1.01%2.78%1.77%
WMTWalmart, Inc.1.12%2.41%1.29%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc0.02%3.45%3.43%

63.3% of QQQ is already inside ECAT.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

ECATQQQ

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, ECAT or QQQ?

ECAT has an expense ratio of 1.43% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $125 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, ECAT or QQQ?

Over the past year ECAT returned +8.67% vs +21.77% 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, ECAT or QQQ?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 17.7% for ECAT. Worst drawdown: ECAT -32.2% vs QQQ -35.1%.

Should I hold both ECAT and QQQ?

ECAT and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 ECAT and QQQ?

At least 63.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings ECAT also owns. Our book for ECAT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 28 positions in common, counted across the 549 positions we hold weights for in ECAT and 102 in QQQ.

Which pays a higher dividend, ECAT or QQQ?

ECAT yields 22.11% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so ECAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is QQQ better than ECAT?

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.