MCN vs QQQ
XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, MCN or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MCN is less concentrated, with 42.7% 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 | MCN | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.18% |
| AUM | $133M | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.59% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 81 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +2.12% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.47% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.42% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.27% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1%Best | 18.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -75.1% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,745 | $19,407Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.7%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Madison Funds | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 28, 2004 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 26, 2004 to Sep 4, 2026 (22 years).
MCN 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.
MCN vs QQQ Performance
XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund (MCN) is an ETF from Madison Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year MCN returned +2.47% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, MCN is up 2.12% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, MCN compounded at +3.42% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.27% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.97% annualized vs -1.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 17.1% for MCN. 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 -75.1% for MCN 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Holdings Overlap
28.9% of MCN's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 20.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings MCN also owns.
MCN and QQQ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, MCN 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.
13 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in MCN and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 81 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 81 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for MCN (76.1% of the fund), and 25 for MCN that do not appear in QQQ (67.5%).
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 MCN | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.36% | 5.76% | 3.40% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.02% | 4.67% | 1.65% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.07% | 3.16% | 1.09% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 3.91% | 0.83% | 3.08% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.95% | 2.78% | 0.83% |
| TMUST-mobile Us, Inc. | 2.25% | 0.82% | 1.43% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 2.37% | 0.19% | 2.18% |
| ADBEAdobe Systems Inc. | 2.09% | 0.46% | 1.63% |
| SNPSSynopsys Inc Common Stock Usd 0.01 | 2.06% | 0.34% | 1.72% |
| HONHoneywell International Inc. | 2.01% | 0.35% | 1.66% |
28.9% of MCN is already inside QQQ.
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 performed better, MCN or QQQ?
Over the past year MCN returned +2.47% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), MCN annualized -1.73% vs +14.97% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MCN or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 17.1% for MCN. Worst drawdown: MCN -75.1% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both MCN and QQQ?
MCN and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 MCN and QQQ?
28.9% of MCN's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 20.7% of QQQ's is in holdings MCN also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in MCN and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, MCN or QQQ?
MCN yields 11.59% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so MCN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than MCN?
QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MCN is less concentrated, with 42.7% 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.