NCLO vs QQQ
Nuveen AA-BBB CLO ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, NCLO or QQQ?
Bank Loan against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | NCLO | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.26% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $156M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.55% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 103 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +4.09% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.40% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +26.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.42% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.0%Best | 19.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.0%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $11,004 | $13,797Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 11, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.8 years).
NCLO 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
NCLO vs QQQ Performance
Nuveen AA-BBB CLO ETF (NCLO) is an ETF from Nuveen and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year NCLO returned +5.40% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, NCLO is up 4.09% 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 19.3% compared with 1.0% for NCLO. 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 -3.0% for NCLO and -22.8% 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NCLO charges 0.26% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $26 vs $18 annually, a gap of $8 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NCLO currently yields 5.55% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in NCLO and 101 in QQQ, totalling 2.3% and 99.6% 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 1 positions we hold weights for in NCLO and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 103 and 321.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NCLO 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, NCLO or QQQ?
NCLO has an expense ratio of 0.26% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NCLO or QQQ?
Over the past year NCLO returned +5.40% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NCLO annualized +5.46% vs +19.58% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NCLO or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 1.0% for NCLO. Worst drawdown: NCLO -3.0% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both NCLO and QQQ?
NCLO and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, NCLO or QQQ?
NCLO yields 5.55% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so NCLO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than NCLO?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.