GCV vs QQQ
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GCV 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.
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 | GCV | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.20% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $83M | $437.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.65% | 0.43% |
| Holdings | 149 | 208 |
| YTD Return | -1.08% | +12.98%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.58% | +11.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.97% | +23.05%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.36% | +12.74%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8%Best | 30.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -70.9%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,181 | $18,213Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 31, 1995 | 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 Nov 11, 2026 (27.7 years).
GCV 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.
GCV vs QQQ Performance
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund (GCV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GCV returned +0.58% while QQQ returned +11.59%. Year to date, GCV is down 1.08% versus a gain of 12.98% for QQQ.
Over three years, GCV compounded at +16.97% per year against +23.05% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +0.36% and +12.74% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.79% annualized vs -1.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.5% compared with 16.8% for GCV. 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 -70.9% for GCV 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 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GCV charges 3.20% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $320 vs $18 annually, a gap of $302 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCV currently yields 11.65% against 0.43% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings GCV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GCV, our book for it covers 34.2% 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 GCV share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 107 days apart, GCV as of Jun 30, 2026 and QQQ as of Oct 15, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 149 and 208.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GCV | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.14% | 1.84% | 1.70% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GCV 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, GCV or QQQ?
GCV has an expense ratio of 3.20% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $302 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GCV or QQQ?
Over the past year GCV returned +0.58% vs +11.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), GCV annualized -1.47% vs +12.79% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GCV or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.5% annualized versus 16.8% for GCV. Worst drawdown: GCV -70.9% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both GCV and QQQ?
GCV and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, 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 GCV and QQQ?
At least 1.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings GCV also owns. Our book for GCV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, GCV or QQQ?
GCV yields 11.65% while QQQ yields 0.43%, so GCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GCV?
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.