FOF vs QQQ

FOF vs QQQ

Which is better, FOF or QQQ?

Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Growth.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FOF is less concentrated, with 40.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: QQQLess Concentrated: FOF

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

MetricFOFQQQ
Expense Ratio0.95%0.18%Best
AUM$355M$506.1B
Dividend Yield8.21%0.42%
Holdings106321
YTD Return-0.73%+19.30%Best
1Y Return+1.14%+22.47%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+15.94%+26.18%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+6.12%+15.42%Best
Volatility (annualized)17.9%Best18.7%
Max Drawdown-66.8%-53.5%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$13,458$20,484Best
Top 10 Weight40.7%Best46.7%
Fund FamilyCohen & Steers FundsInvesco (US)
CategoryAllocation/BalancedEquity
StyleAllocation/BalancedLarge Cap Growth
InceptionNov 20, 2006Mar 10, 1999

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2006 to Oct 14, 2026 (19.9 years).

FOF 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.

FOF vs QQQ Performance

Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund Inc. (FOF) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year FOF returned +1.14% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, FOF is down 0.73% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.

Over three years, FOF compounded at +15.94% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +6.12% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.29% annualized vs -0.03%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 17.9% for FOF. 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 -66.8% for FOF 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

FOF charges 0.95% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $18 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FOF currently yields 8.21% against 0.42% for QQQ.

Holdings Overlap

FOF already in QQQ0.7%
QQQ already in FOF3.0%

0.7% of FOF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings FOF also owns.

QQQ and FOF share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 93 days apart, FOF as of Jun 30, 2026 and QQQ as of Oct 1, 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 113 positions we hold weights for in FOF and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 106 and 321.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 91 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for FOF (93.3% of the fund), and 103 for FOF that do not appear in QQQ (89.1%).

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

StockWeight in FOFWeight in QQQDifference
SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies Corp.0.11%2.70%2.59%
ALABAstera Labs Inc0.57%0.26%0.31%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of FOF and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

FOFQQQ

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, FOF or QQQ?

FOF has an expense ratio of 0.95% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, FOF or QQQ?

Over the past year FOF returned +1.14% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), FOF annualized -0.03% vs +15.29% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, FOF or QQQ?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 17.9% for FOF. Worst drawdown: FOF -66.8% vs QQQ -53.5%.

Should I hold both FOF and QQQ?

FOF 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.

What is the holdings overlap between FOF and QQQ?

3.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings FOF also owns. 3.0% of QQQ's is in holdings FOF also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 113 positions we hold weights for in FOF and 101 in QQQ.

Which pays a higher dividend, FOF or QQQ?

FOF yields 8.21% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so FOF currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is QQQ better than FOF?

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FOF is less concentrated, with 40.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.