ECF vs QQQ
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ECF or QQQ?
Convertibles against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | ECF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.16% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $220M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.82% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 99 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +4.83% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.98% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.31% | +25.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.93% | +15.24%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8%Best | 21.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -83.1% | -70.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,126 | $20,324Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 30, 1986 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 2001 to Sep 18, 2026 (25.7 years).
ECF 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 25.7 years both funds cover.
ECF vs QQQ Performance
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year ECF returned +4.98% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, ECF is up 4.83% versus a gain of 17.95% for QQQ.
Over three years, ECF compounded at +19.31% per year against +25.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.93% and +15.24% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +10.79% annualized vs +8.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.6% compared with 16.8% for ECF. 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 -83.1% for ECF and -70.4% 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ECF charges 1.16% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $116 vs $18 annually, a gap of $98 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECF currently yields 3.82% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings ECF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ECF, our book for it covers 63.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and ECF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, ECF as of Mar 31, 2026 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.
5 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 99 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ECF 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, ECF or QQQ?
ECF has an expense ratio of 1.16% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $98 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ECF or QQQ?
Over the past year ECF returned +4.98% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), ECF annualized +8.11% vs +10.79% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ECF or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.6% annualized versus 16.8% for ECF. Worst drawdown: ECF -83.1% vs QQQ -70.4%.
Should I hold both ECF and QQQ?
ECF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 ECF and QQQ?
At least 13.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings ECF also owns. Our book for ECF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, ECF or QQQ?
ECF yields 3.82% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so ECF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ECF?
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.