KOOL vs QQQ
North Shore Equity Rotation ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, KOOL or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. KOOL is less concentrated, with 43.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | KOOL | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.93% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $60M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 42 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +15.16% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.43% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1%Best | 17.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -20.6%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $14,947 | $16,684Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.1%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | North Shore Indices | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 1, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 2, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.5 years).
KOOL 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 2.5 years both funds cover.
KOOL vs QQQ Performance
North Shore Equity Rotation ETF (KOOL) is an ETF from North Shore Indices and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year KOOL returned +17.43% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, KOOL is up 15.16% 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 17.5% compared with 12.1% for KOOL. 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 -20.6% for KOOL 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KOOL charges 0.93% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $93 vs $18 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KOOL currently yields 0.42% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
30.4% of KOOL's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 39.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings KOOL also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
11 positions in common, counted across the 44 positions we hold weights for in KOOL and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 42 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 85 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for KOOL (58.3% of the fund), and 29 for KOOL that do not appear in QQQ (62.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in KOOL | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.84% | 8.44% | 2.60% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.03% | 7.27% | 3.24% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.40% | 4.67% | 0.27% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.03% | 5.76% | 2.73% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.72% | 3.36% | 0.36% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.69% | 2.78% | 0.09% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.08% | 3.16% | 1.08% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 1.30% | 2.41% | 1.11% |
| SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies | 1.24% | 0.91% | 0.33% |
| BKRBaker Hughes Co | 1.79% | 0.27% | 1.52% |
39.2% of QQQ is already inside KOOL.
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, KOOL or QQQ?
KOOL has an expense ratio of 0.93% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KOOL or QQQ?
Over the past year KOOL returned +17.43% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KOOL or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 12.1% for KOOL. Worst drawdown: KOOL -20.6% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both KOOL and QQQ?
KOOL and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 KOOL and QQQ?
39.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings KOOL also owns. 39.2% of QQQ's is in holdings KOOL also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 44 positions we hold weights for in KOOL and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, KOOL or QQQ?
KOOL yields 0.42% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than KOOL?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. KOOL is less concentrated, with 43.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.