IEUS vs QQQ
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IEUS or QQQ?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IEUS is less concentrated, with 5.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.
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 | IEUS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.41% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $164M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.21% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 857 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +2.64% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.53% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.75% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.34% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0% | 18.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.3% | -51.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,226 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.3%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 12, 2007 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 19, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (18.9 years).
IEUS 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.
IEUS vs QQQ Performance
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF (IEUS) 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 IEUS returned +6.53% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, IEUS is up 2.64% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, IEUS compounded at +15.75% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +2.34% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.47% annualized vs +2.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IEUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 18.9% 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 -63.3% for IEUS and -51.4% 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IEUS charges 0.41% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $41 vs $18 annually, a gap of $23 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IEUS currently yields 3.21% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 828 holdings in IEUS and 101 in QQQ, totalling 98.4% 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 828 positions we hold weights for in IEUS and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 857 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IEUS (96.3% of the fund), and 11 for IEUS that do not appear in QQQ (0.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IEUS 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, IEUS or QQQ?
IEUS has an expense ratio of 0.41% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $23 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IEUS or QQQ?
Over the past year IEUS returned +6.53% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), IEUS annualized +2.90% vs +15.47% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IEUS or QQQ?
IEUS has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 18.9% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: IEUS -63.3% vs QQQ -51.4%.
Should I hold both IEUS and QQQ?
IEUS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, IEUS or QQQ?
IEUS yields 3.21% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so IEUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IEUS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IEUS is less concentrated, with 5.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.