MCOW vs QQQ
Pacer S&P MidCap 400 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, MCOW or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. MCOW led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. MCOW is less concentrated, with 31.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.
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 | MCOW | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1M | $437.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.25% | 0.43% |
| Holdings | 161 | 208 |
| YTD Return | +15.04%Best | +12.98% |
| 1Y Return | +13.39%Best | +11.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.05% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.74% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7%Best | 21.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.1% | -14.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,136 | $12,025Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 31.6%Best | 46.9% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 27, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 28, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.2 years).
MCOW 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
MCOW vs QQQ Performance
Pacer S&P MidCap 400 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF (MCOW) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year MCOW returned +13.39% while QQQ returned +11.59%. Year to date, MCOW is up 15.04% versus a gain of 12.98% 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 21.2% compared with 12.7% for MCOW. 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 -15.1% for MCOW and -14.8% 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MCOW charges 0.49% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $18 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MCOW currently yields 0.25% against 0.43% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 80 holdings in MCOW and 101 in QQQ, totalling 99.7% and 99.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in MCOW and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 161 and 208.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for MCOW (97.2% of the fund), and 79 for MCOW that do not appear in QQQ (97.3%).
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 MCOW 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, MCOW or QQQ?
MCOW has an expense ratio of 0.49% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MCOW or QQQ?
Over the past year MCOW returned +13.39% vs +11.59% for QQQ, so MCOW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), MCOW annualized +9.38% vs +16.61% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MCOW or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.2% annualized versus 12.7% for MCOW. Worst drawdown: MCOW -15.1% vs QQQ -14.8%.
Should I hold both MCOW and QQQ?
MCOW and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, MCOW or QQQ?
MCOW yields 0.25% while QQQ yields 0.43%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than MCOW?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. MCOW led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. MCOW is less concentrated, with 31.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.