GVI vs QQQ
iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GVI or QQQ?
Intermediate Term Bond against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | GVI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3.8B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.75% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 6,187 | 321 |
| YTD Return | -3.79% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.59% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.29% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.18% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.1% | 18.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.1%Best | -53.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,090 | $20,484Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 5, 2007 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 11, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (19.8 years).
GVI 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
GVI vs QQQ Performance
iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF (GVI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GVI returned -3.59% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, GVI is down 3.79% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, GVI compounded at +3.29% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +0.18% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.32% annualized vs +2.62%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GVI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.1% compared with 18.7% for QQQ. 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 -39.1% for GVI and -53.5% 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 -0.02. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GVI charges 0.20% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $18 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GVI currently yields 3.75% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings GVI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GVI, our book for it covers 70.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 4,852 positions we hold weights for in GVI and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 6,187 and 321.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GVI 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, GVI or QQQ?
GVI has an expense ratio of 0.20% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GVI or QQQ?
Over the past year GVI returned -3.59% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GVI annualized +2.62% vs +15.32% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GVI or QQQ?
GVI has been the more volatile fund at 25.1% annualized versus 18.7% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: GVI -39.1% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both GVI and QQQ?
GVI and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of -0.02, 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, GVI or QQQ?
GVI yields 3.75% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so GVI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GVI?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.