LCOW vs QQQ
Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, LCOW or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.0%.
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 | LCOW | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $27M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.65% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 202 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +14.27% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.75% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +26.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.42% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.6%Best | 19.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.6%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,563 | $15,025Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.0% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 6, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 7, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.4 years).
LCOW 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
LCOW vs QQQ Performance
Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF (LCOW) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year LCOW returned +17.75% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, LCOW is up 14.27% versus a gain of 19.30% 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 19.0% compared with 10.6% for LCOW. 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 -10.6% for LCOW and -12.0% 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LCOW 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, LCOW currently yields 0.65% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
56.2% of LCOW's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 46.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings LCOW also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
35 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in LCOW and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 202 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 58 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for LCOW (49.5% of the fund), and 63 for LCOW that do not appear in QQQ (43.7%).
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 LCOW | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.52% | 8.33% | 2.81% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.55% | 7.35% | 1.80% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.96% | 5.76% | 0.20% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 5.15% | 3.26% | 1.89% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 4.63% | 2.85% | 1.78% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.26% | 2.53% | 1.73% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 3.01% | 1.35% | 1.66% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 2.53% | 1.72% | 0.81% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.01% | 1.77% | 0.24% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 2.02% | 1.70% | 0.32% |
56.2% of LCOW 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 is cheaper, LCOW or QQQ?
LCOW 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, LCOW or QQQ?
Over the past year LCOW returned +17.75% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), LCOW annualized +24.32% vs +33.75% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LCOW or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 10.6% for LCOW. Worst drawdown: LCOW -10.6% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both LCOW and QQQ?
LCOW and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 LCOW and QQQ?
56.2% of LCOW's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 46.8% of QQQ's is in holdings LCOW also owns. They hold 35 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in LCOW and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, LCOW or QQQ?
LCOW yields 0.65% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so LCOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than LCOW?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.