QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

QMAX.TO (Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF) and XQQU.TO (iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - QMAX.TO is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by Hamilton Capital, while XQQU.TO is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. QMAX.TO is actively managed, while XQQU.TO is passively managed. Over the past year, QMAX.TO returned 44.35% vs 43.63% for XQQU.TO. Their correlation of 0.88 suggests significant overlap in exposure. QMAX.TO charges 0.65%/yr vs 0.39%/yr for XQQU.TO.

Performance

QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF (QMAX.TO) and iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with QMAX.TO having a 22.06% return and XQQU.TO slightly higher at 22.83%.

QMAX.TO

• 1D: 0.64%
• 1M: 17.44%
• YTD: 22.06%
• 6M: 19.75%
• 1Y: 44.35%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

XQQU.TO

• 1D: 0.47%
• 1M: 13.16%
• YTD: 22.83%
• 6M: 19.29%
• 1Y: 43.63%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
QMAX.TO Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF	22.06%	16.57%	37.65%	16.15%
XQQU.TO iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF	22.83%	15.17%	36.07%	12.01%

Correlation

The correlation between QMAX.TO and XQQU.TO is 0.87, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.87
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 27, 2023	0.88

The correlation between QMAX.TO and XQQU.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.87 to 0.88 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

QMAX.TO

QMAX.TO Risk / Return Rank: 52
QMAX.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 64
QMAX.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 60
QMAX.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 62
QMAX.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 39
QMAX.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 34

XQQU.TO

XQQU.TO Risk / Return Rank: 76
XQQU.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 84
XQQU.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 80
XQQU.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 80
XQQU.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 71
XQQU.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 63

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF (QMAX.TO) and iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU.TO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	QMAX.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.17	2.81	-0.64
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.86	3.67	-0.81
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.38	1.49	-0.10
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.95	3.61	-1.66
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.32	11.54	-6.22
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QMAX.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.17, which is comparable to the XQQU.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.81. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QMAX.TO and XQQU.TO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	QMAX.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.17	2.81	-0.64
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.58	1.61	-0.03

Drawdowns

QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QMAX.TO drawdown since its inception was -26.77%, which is greater than XQQU.TO's maximum drawdown of -22.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QMAX.TO and XQQU.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	QMAX.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-26.77%	-22.68%	-4.09%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-22.86%	-12.16%	-10.70%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.25%	-3.37%	-1.88%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	8.36%	3.79%	+4.57%

Volatility

QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Volatility Comparison

Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF (QMAX.TO) has a higher volatility of 6.48% compared to iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU.TO) at 4.36%. This indicates that QMAX.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XQQU.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	QMAX.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.48%	4.36%	+2.12%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.34%	11.78%	+4.56%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.53%	15.61%	+4.92%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	23.66%	19.77%	+3.89%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	23.66%	19.77%	+3.89%

QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

QMAX.TO has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is higher than XQQU.TO's 0.39% expense ratio.

Dividends

QMAX.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Dividend Comparison

QMAX.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.33%, more than XQQU.TO's 0.21% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
QMAX.TO Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF	9.33%	10.79%	10.90%	2.01%
XQQU.TO iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF	0.21%	0.26%	0.20%	0.10%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both QMAX.TO and XQQU.TO in my portfolio?

QMAX.TO and XQQU.TO have a correlation of 0.87, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, QMAX.TO or XQQU.TO?

On fees, XQQU.TO is cheaper at 0.39% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, QMAX.TO or XQQU.TO?

XQQU.TO is cheaper with a 0.39% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for QMAX.TO.

What is the main difference between QMAX.TO and XQQU.TO?

QMAX.TO is categorized as Technology Equities, while XQQU.TO is Nasdaq-100. They also come from different issuers: Hamilton Capital and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for QMAX.TO and 0.39% for XQQU.TO.