GDV vs QQQ
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GDV 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 | GDV | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.30% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3.4B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.21% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 715 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +10.86% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.72% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.29% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.51% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 18.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.3% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,043 | $19,586Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2003 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 25, 2003 to Sep 11, 2026 (22.8 years).
GDV 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.
GDV vs QQQ Performance
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (GDV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GDV returned +15.72% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, GDV is up 10.86% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, GDV compounded at +20.29% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.51% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.29% annualized vs +3.24%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 18.2% for QQQ. 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 -73.3% for GDV and -53.5% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDV charges 1.30% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $130 vs $18 annually, a gap of $112 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDV currently yields 5.21% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 76.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings GDV also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for GDV, our book for it lists positions totalling 110.4% 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 GDV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, GDV 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.
48 positions in common, counted across the 678 positions we hold weights for in GDV and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 715 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GDV | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 1.32% | 8.44% | 7.12% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.97% | 7.27% | 6.30% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 1.41% | 5.76% | 4.35% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.87% | 4.67% | 3.80% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.67% | 3.13% | 1.46% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.24% | 4.43% | 4.19% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.59% | 3.16% | 2.57% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 0.24% | 3.45% | 3.21% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 0.27% | 3.36% | 3.09% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 0.71% | 2.78% | 2.07% |
76.9% of QQQ is already inside GDV.
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, GDV or QQQ?
GDV has an expense ratio of 1.30% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $112 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDV or QQQ?
Over the past year GDV returned +15.72% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), GDV annualized +3.24% vs +14.29% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDV or QQQ?
GDV has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 18.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: GDV -73.3% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both GDV and QQQ?
GDV and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 GDV and QQQ?
At least 76.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings GDV also owns. Our book for GDV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 48 positions in common, counted across the 678 positions we hold weights for in GDV and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, GDV or QQQ?
GDV yields 5.21% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so GDV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GDV?
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.