A side-by-side comparison of iShares Global Agriculture Common Class (COW) and Hamilton Technology Yield Maximizer ETF (QMAX) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
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1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | COW | QMAX |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +11.21% | +20.09%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | +0.14%✓ | -0.63% |
| 1-Week Change | -0.91% | +1.01%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -0.98% | +6.80%✓ |
| Current Price | $70.75 | $27.02 |
| AUM | $284M | $958M✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0% | — |
| Dividend Yield | 2.12% | 9.47%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | Annually | Monthly |
| Inception Date | 2007-12-19 | 2023-10-25 |
| Holdings Count | 10 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Sector Equity | Sector Equity |
| Beta | 0.43 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $76.62 | $27.32 |
| 52-Week Low | $62.19 | $17.68 |
| 50-Day MA | $72.58 | $24.29 |
| 200-Day MA | $70.31 | $22.62 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | COW | QMAX |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +11.21% | +20.09%✓ |
| 1 Year | +9.53% | +39.41%✓ |
| 3 Year | +7.33% | — |
| 5 Year | +6.51% | — |
| 10 Year | +9.81% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 16.47% | 29.58% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.38 | — |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | CTVA | Corteva Inc | 9.71% |
| 2 | ADM | Archer-Daniels-Midland Company | 9.59% |
| 3 | DE | Deere & Company | 8.82% |
| 4 | BG | Bunge Global SA | 6.72% |
| 5 | AGCO | AGCO Corporation | 6.31% |
| 6 | TSN | Tyson Foods Inc | 6.27% |
| 7 | ANDE | The Andersons Inc | 5.03% |
| 8 | INGR | Ingredion Incorporated | 4.68% |
| 9 | SQM | Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B | 4.39% |
| 10 | FDP | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc | 4.01% |
| 1 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 10.05% |
| 2 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 9.22% |
| 3 | INTC | Intel Corporation | 7.87% |
| 4 | PLTR | Palantir Technologies Inc. | 6.96% |
| 5 | LRCX | Lam Research Corp | 6.81% |
| 6 | AVGO | Broadcom Inc | 6.74% |
| 7 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 6.59% |
| 8 | AAPL | Apple Inc | 6.43% |
| 9 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 6.33% |
| 10 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 6.31% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | COW | QMAX |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 26.10% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 18.01% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 1.63% | 11.80% |
| Consumer Defensive | 43.40% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.59% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 28.28% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 0.00% | 70.19% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
About COW
iShares Global Agriculture Common Class (COW.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
About QMAX
Hamilton Technology Yield Maximizer ETF (QMAX.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both COW and QMAX are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, QMAX scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between COW and QMAX?
COW (iShares Global Agriculture Common Class) and QMAX (Hamilton Technology Yield Maximizer ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($284M vs $958M), dividend yield (2.12% vs 9.47%), and year-to-date performance (+11.21% vs +20.09%).
Is COW better than QMAX?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy COW and QMAX on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both COW and QMAX should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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