KAT vs QQQ
Scharf ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, KAT or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%.
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 | KAT | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $672M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.45% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 35 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +5.22% | +22.20%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.25% | +24.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +28.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 21.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.3%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,642 | $13,251Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.4% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Scharf Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 30, 2011 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 25, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.1 years).
KAT 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
KAT vs QQQ Performance
Scharf ETF (KAT) is an ETF from Scharf Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year KAT returned +3.25% while QQQ returned +24.58%. Year to date, KAT is up 5.22% versus a gain of 22.20% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.3% compared with 12.4% for KAT. 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 -9.3% for KAT and -12.0% 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 0.16. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KAT charges 0.75% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $18 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KAT currently yields 0.45% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
19.6% of KAT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 13.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings KAT also owns.
KAT and QQQ share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in KAT and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 35 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for KAT (83.9% of the fund), and 23 for KAT that do not appear in QQQ (66.7%).
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 KAT 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, KAT or QQQ?
KAT has an expense ratio of 0.75% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KAT or QQQ?
Over the past year KAT returned +3.25% vs +24.58% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), KAT annualized +5.82% vs +29.16% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KAT or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.3% annualized versus 12.4% for KAT. Worst drawdown: KAT -9.3% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both KAT and QQQ?
KAT and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.16, 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 KAT and QQQ?
19.6% of KAT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 13.7% of QQQ's is in holdings KAT also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in KAT and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, KAT or QQQ?
KAT yields 0.45% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so KAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than KAT?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.