GAB vs QQQ
Gabelli Equity Trust vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GAB or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend 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 | GAB | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.50% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.19% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 682 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -6.42% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.94% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.30% | +25.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.30% | +15.24%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0%Tie | -83.0%Tie |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,573 | $20,324Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 21, 1986 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 18, 2026 (27.5 years).
GAB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
GAB vs QQQ Performance
Gabelli Equity Trust (GAB) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GAB returned -3.94% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, GAB is down 6.42% versus a gain of 17.95% for QQQ.
Over three years, GAB compounded at +11.30% per year against +25.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +6.30% and +15.24% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs -0.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 20.6% for GAB. 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 -83.0% for GAB and -83.0% 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GAB charges 1.50% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $150 vs $18 annually, a gap of $132 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GAB currently yields 10.19% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 72.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings GAB also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for GAB, our book for it lists positions totalling 115.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
Most of QQQ is already inside GAB. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, GAB 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.
46 positions in common, counted across the 655 positions we hold weights for in GAB and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 682 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GAB | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.08% | 8.44% | 8.36% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.09% | 7.27% | 7.18% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 0.15% | 5.76% | 5.61% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.13% | 4.67% | 4.54% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.04% | 4.43% | 4.39% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.47% | 3.13% | 2.66% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.09% | 3.45% | 3.36% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 1.54% | 1.84% | 0.30% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.10% | 3.16% | 3.06% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 0.37% | 2.78% | 2.41% |
72.6% of QQQ is already inside GAB.
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, GAB or QQQ?
GAB has an expense ratio of 1.50% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $132 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GAB or QQQ?
Over the past year GAB returned -3.94% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), GAB annualized -0.87% vs +13.04% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GAB or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 20.6% for GAB. Worst drawdown: GAB -83.0% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both GAB and QQQ?
GAB and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 GAB and QQQ?
At least 72.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings GAB also owns. Our book for GAB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 46 positions in common, counted across the 655 positions we hold weights for in GAB and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, GAB or QQQ?
GAB yields 10.19% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so GAB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GAB?
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.