KYN vs QQQ
Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, KYN or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. KYN led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 77.5%.
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 | KYN | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 10.00% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.06% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 36 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +27.46%Best | +17.44% |
| 1Y Return | +32.40%Best | +24.69% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.18%Best | +24.76% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.19%Best | +14.22% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.1% | 18.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -95.1% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $29,542Best | $19,441 |
| Top 10 Weight | 77.5% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 28, 2004 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 28, 2004 to Sep 8, 2026 (21.9 years).
KYN 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.
KYN vs QQQ Performance
Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (KYN) is an ETF from Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year KYN returned +32.40% while QQQ returned +24.69%. Year to date, KYN is up 27.46% versus a gain of 17.44% for QQQ.
Over three years, KYN compounded at +31.18% per year against +24.76% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +24.19% and +14.22% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.00% annualized vs -0.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KYN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.1% compared with 18.3% 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 -95.1% for KYN 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 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KYN charges 10.00% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $1000 vs $18 annually, a gap of $982 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KYN currently yields 6.06% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
11.7% of KYN's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings KYN also owns.
KYN and QQQ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 248 days apart, KYN as of Nov 30, 2025 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in KYN and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 36 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for KYN (95.3% of the fund), and 17 for KYN that do not appear in QQQ (69.9%).
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 KYN 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, KYN or QQQ?
KYN has an expense ratio of 10.00% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $982 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KYN or QQQ?
Over the past year KYN returned +32.40% vs +24.69% for QQQ, so KYN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), KYN annualized -0.12% vs +15.00% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KYN or QQQ?
KYN has been the more volatile fund at 30.1% annualized versus 18.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: KYN -95.1% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both KYN and QQQ?
KYN and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, 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 KYN and QQQ?
11.7% of KYN's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.6% of QQQ's is in holdings KYN also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in KYN and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, KYN or QQQ?
KYN yields 6.06% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so KYN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than KYN?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. KYN led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 77.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.