MKC vs QQQ Stock Comparison

QQQ currently leads MKC in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 57 vs 49. The clearest difference is risk resilience, while MKC has the stronger value profile.

Market data as of Oct 31, 2026 market close· AIQ score gap 8 points
MKC
Consumer Defensive
vs
QQQ
Equity
MKC
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
Price
$47.29
Day move
+1.05%
AIQ Score
49/100
Best edge
Value
Sector
Consumer Defensive
QQQ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Leads
Price
$690
Day move
-3.47%
AIQ Score
57/100
Best edge
Risk Resilience
Sector
Equity

What is the main difference between MKC and QQQ?

QQQ leads the current stock comparison as Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1, with the clearest separation coming from risk resilience and the broader AIQ evidence mix.

AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison

McCormick & Company, Incorporated vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1

Data as of Oct 31, 2026· market close· MKC (stock) vs QQQ (ETF)· Coverage 65/66 fields· 42/42 directly comparable· Moderate confidence
AIQ VerdictFragileAIQ Comparison Conviction 5/10

QQQ leads

QQQ leads by 8 AIQ points, primarily on Risk Resilience and Quality, but the lead has narrowed from 19 points over 30 sessions.

Fragile: 3 of 4 evidence groups support QQQ, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.

Evidence agreement: 3 of 4Comparison trend: Weakening
MKC

McCormick & Company, Incorporated

AIQ Score
49/100
AIQ Edge Score
5/10
QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1

Leads
AIQ Score
57/100
AIQ Edge Score
6/10

The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors QQQ over MKC, 57 versus 49 as of Oct 31, 2026. QQQ's advantage is driven primarily by stronger risk resilience and quality, while MKC holds the stronger value profile. QQQ also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 3 of 4 covered evidence groups favor QQQ today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the leader's advantage has been narrowing. QQQ lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 19 to 8 points over 30 sessions.

Compare McCormick & Company, Incorporated and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.

Currently unavailable

Performance over time

Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.

MKC
-35.6%
QQQ
+92.9%

Total return comparison

Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested

MKC $6,440 · QQQ $19,294

Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.

Compare MKC and QQQ against another ticker

Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.

Basic: 2 symbols·Explorer: 3 symbols·Pro and Premium: 5 symbols·Your limit: 2

AIQ Factor Divergence

Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.

MKC advantage
0
QQQ advantage
  • Risk Resilience45 vs 69
    QQQ +24
  • Quality62 vs 81
    QQQ +19
  • Value43 vs 35
    MKC +8
  • Momentum43 vs 46
    Even

3 of 4 evidence groups favor QQQ. QQQ’s edge is concentrated in risk resilience and quality; MKC keeps a meaningful value edge.

What changed since the last close

Latest scored session 2026-10-30, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-29.

MKC0 AIQ

No factor moved materially.

No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.

QQQ0 AIQ

Largest factor move: Quality -1, not enough on its own to move the overall score.

No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 3 active signals are unchanged.

QQQ's lead was unchanged in the latest session.

Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — MKC and QQQ both carry a full feed there.

The central trade-off

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1): the stronger current systematic profile, led by risk resilience and quality.

MKC (McCormick & Company, Incorporated): the counter-case, on value, valuation — but at materially higher volatility, 38.3% against 19.5%.

Which one fits your objective

The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.

Balanced

QQQ

QQQ on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.

Growth

Even

Growth figures are not covered for both names.

Value

MKC

MKC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 8 points.

Momentum

Even

The two are level on Momentum.

Lower downside

QQQ

QQQ on Risk Resilience, by 24 points.

Analyst upside

Even

Analyst targets are level or not covered for both names.

AIQ vs Wall Street

Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.

MeasureMKCQQQNote
Implied upside to target+16.7%—Level
Target dispersion+38.1%—Lower is tighter analyst agreement
ConsensusBuy—Context, not a primary driver
Analysts covering6—Higher coverage generally improves confidence

Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

AIQ Agreement Matrix

3 of 4 covered evidence groups favor QQQ. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.

Evidence groupFavorsReading
AIQ ScoreQQQ49 vs 57
FundamentalsNot coveredNot covered
ValuationMKCValue 43 vs 35
TechnicalsQQQPrice vs 50-day -4.3% vs -4.8%; vs 200-day -14% vs 6.9%
Risk ResilienceQQQRisk Resilience 45 vs 69
Analyst expectationsNot coveredNot covered

✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of MKC and QQQ and are excluded from the count.

AIQ Decision Stability

Fragile

The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.

  • The AIQ gap is moderate at 8 points.
  • The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • The lead has swung materially session to session. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)

Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on QQQ.

How the comparison changed

120 daily snapshots · Jul 1 – Oct 30

QQQ lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 19 to 8 points over 30 sessions.

Jul 1MKC leads above the line · QQQ leads belowOct 30
Today
QQQ +8
49 vs 57
7 sessions ago
MKC +2
52 vs 50
30 sessions ago
QQQ +19
45 vs 64
90 sessions ago
QQQ +3
56 vs 59

The lead changed hands 11 times in this window, most recently on Oct 27 when QQQ moved ahead of MKC.

AIQ Signal Divergence

Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.

MKCConflicted

1 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted

Only MKC

  • Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
  • Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (8.35%)
  • Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
  • MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
QQQConflicted

2 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted

Only QQQ

  • Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (6.88%)
  • Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
  • MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon

QQQ leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.

Price vs model alignment

Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.

MKCNo material change

Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +1.05%, AIQ 0 points).

QQQNo material change

Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price -3.47%, AIQ 0 points).

What would flip this result

A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.

  1. 1MKC closes the Risk Resilience gap — currently 24 points behind, the largest single contributor to QQQ's edge.
  2. 2MKC's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it.
  3. 3QQQ's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
  4. 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 11 points over 30 sessions, and a further 8-point move would eliminate QQQ's advantage entirely.

The full evidence

Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.

Fundamentals

Split
MetricMKCQQQ
Revenue growth (YoY)3.3%—
EPS growth (YoY)-85.2%—
Gross margin38.6%—
Operating margin15.3%—
Return on equity (TTM)25.6%—
Debt to equity0.71—

Performance

QQQ leads 5 of 6 windows
MetricMKCQQQ
1 week (5 sessions)-0.6%0.1%
1 month (20 sessions)-0.7%-1.9%
3 months (63 sessions)-9.6%6.2%
6 months (126 sessions)-8.9%9.7%
Year to date-32.4%18.1%
1 year (252 sessions)-31.1%17.6%

Technicals

QQQ has the stronger structure
MetricMKCQQQ
RSI (14)50.539.4
ADX (14)23.225.5
Price vs 50-day-4.3%-4.8%
Price vs 200-day-14%6.9%
Volatility (1M, annualized)38.3%19.5%

Risk

QQQ is the more resilient
MetricMKCQQQ
Beta-0.341.45
Sharpe ratio-1.130.59
Sortino ratio-1.660.9
Max drawdown-38.4%-12.2%
Current drawdown-35.7%-4.5%
Annualized volatility31.2%20%
Value at risk (95%)-3.2%-2%

Straight answers

Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.

Which is better, MKC or QQQ?

On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, QQQ is the stronger of the two as of Oct 31, 2026, scoring 57 against MKC's 49. The edge comes from risk resilience and quality. MKC is not without a case — it holds the better value profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.

Is MKC or QQQ the better buy right now?

QQQ carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 31, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the leader's advantage has been narrowing. Treat the lead as provisional.

Why does the AIQ Score favor QQQ over MKC?

The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. QQQ leads Risk Resilience by 24 points; QQQ leads Quality by 19 points; MKC leads Value by 8 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.

Which has more analyst upside, MKC or QQQ?

Analyst price targets imply +16.7% upside for MKC and not covered for QQQ. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

Which is better value, MKC or QQQ?

MKC is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. MKC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 8 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.

Which has stronger growth, MKC or QQQ?

Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.

Which has stronger momentum, MKC or QQQ?

The two are level on Momentum. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.

Which is riskier, MKC or QQQ?

QQQ is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. QQQ on Risk Resilience, by 24 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.

Is MKC more profitable than QQQ?

Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.

Is QQQ's lead over MKC getting stronger or weaker?

QQQ lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 19 to 8 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-07-01 and 2026-10-30. The lead has changed hands 11 times in that window, most recently on 2026-10-27, when QQQ moved ahead of MKC.

What would change the MKC vs QQQ verdict?

The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: MKC closes the Risk Resilience gap — currently 24 points behind, the largest single contributor to QQQ's edge; MKC's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it; QQQ's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 11 points over 30 sessions, and a further 8-point move would eliminate QQQ's advantage entirely.

What do the current signals say about MKC and QQQ?

MKC: 1 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. QQQ: 2 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on MKC is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon). On QQQ it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).

Continue your research

This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.

How this comparison is scored

The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.

The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.

How to use side-by-side comparison →

This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.