GCAD vs QQQ
Gabelli Commercial Aerospace and Defense Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GCAD or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
GCAD has a lower expense ratio. GCAD led over 3Y, QQQ over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.5%.
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 | GCAD | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.10%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $44M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.87% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 55 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +5.21% | +15.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.57% | +20.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +30.58%Best | +24.86% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.26% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0%Best | 17.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.7 years | $22,337 | $27,281Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.5% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 3, 2023 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 4, 2023 to Sep 14, 2026 (3.7 years).
GCAD 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 3.7 years both funds cover.
GCAD vs QQQ Performance
Gabelli Commercial Aerospace and Defense Fund (GCAD) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GCAD returned +16.57% while QQQ returned +20.44%. Year to date, GCAD is up 5.21% versus a gain of 15.94% for QQQ.
Over three years, GCAD compounded at +30.58% per year against +24.86% for QQQ. Across the full 4-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +31.16% annualized vs +24.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 17.0% for GCAD. 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 -16.1% for GCAD and -22.8% 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GCAD charges 0.10% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $10 vs $18 annually, a gap of $8 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCAD currently yields 1.87% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
5.5% of GCAD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings GCAD also owns.
GCAD and QQQ share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in GCAD and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 55 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for GCAD (94.8% of the fund), and 40 for GCAD that do not appear in QQQ (87.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GCAD 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, GCAD or QQQ?
GCAD has an expense ratio of 0.10% while QQQ charges 0.18%. GCAD is the cheaper option, by $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GCAD or QQQ?
Over the past year GCAD returned +16.57% vs +20.44% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), GCAD annualized +24.26% vs +31.16% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GCAD or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 17.0% for GCAD. Worst drawdown: GCAD -16.1% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both GCAD and QQQ?
GCAD and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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 GCAD and QQQ?
5.5% of GCAD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.8% of QQQ's is in holdings GCAD also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in GCAD and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, GCAD or QQQ?
GCAD yields 1.87% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so GCAD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GCAD?
GCAD has a lower expense ratio. GCAD led over 3Y, QQQ over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.