KAUG vs QQQ
Innovator US Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - August vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, KAUG or QQQ?
Option Writing against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y 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 | KAUG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $67M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 6 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +7.05% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.44% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.1%Best | 18.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.7%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $11,640 | $15,758Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 31, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 1, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.1 years).
KAUG 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
KAUG vs QQQ Performance
Innovator US Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - August (KAUG) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year KAUG returned +9.44% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, KAUG is up 7.05% versus a gain of 17.95% 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 18.1% compared with 8.1% for KAUG. 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 -15.7% for KAUG 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KAUG charges 0.79% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $18 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KAUG currently yields 0.00% against 0.44% for QQQ.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of KAUG 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, KAUG or QQQ?
KAUG has an expense ratio of 0.79% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KAUG or QQQ?
Over the past year KAUG returned +9.44% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), KAUG annualized +7.50% vs +24.18% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KAUG or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 8.1% for KAUG. Worst drawdown: KAUG -15.7% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both KAUG and QQQ?
KAUG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, KAUG or QQQ?
KAUG yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than KAUG?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.