ILCB vs QQQ
iShares Morningstar US Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ILCB or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
ILCB has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. ILCB is less concentrated, with 37.4% 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 | ILCB | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $1.3B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.96% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 530 | 321 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 18.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -52.8%Best | -53.5% |
| $10,000 over 22.3 years | $77,701 | $212,117Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.4%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2004 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 12 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. ILCB has data through Oct 2, 2026 and QQQ through Oct 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 22.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 2, 2004 to Oct 2, 2026 (22.3 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 14.6% for ILCB. 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 -52.8% for ILCB 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ILCB charges 0.03% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $18 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILCB currently yields 0.96% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
52.1% of ILCB's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 90.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings ILCB also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside ILCB. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
88 positions in common, counted across the 527 positions we hold weights for in ILCB and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 530 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ILCB (6.2% of the fund), and 423 for ILCB that do not appear in QQQ (46.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ILCB | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.66% | 8.33% | 0.67% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.29% | 7.35% | 0.06% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.51% | 5.76% | 0.25% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.77% | 4.07% | 0.30% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.64% | 5.02% | 3.38% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc-cl A | 2.96% | 3.05% | 0.09% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 1.26% | 4.17% | 2.91% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.12% | 3.26% | 1.14% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc.- Cl C | 2.36% | 2.85% | 0.49% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.52% | 2.53% | 0.01% |
90.1% of QQQ is already inside ILCB.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ILCB or QQQ?
ILCB has an expense ratio of 0.03% while QQQ charges 0.18%. ILCB is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, ILCB or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 14.6% for ILCB. Worst drawdown: ILCB -52.8% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both ILCB and QQQ?
ILCB and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ILCB and QQQ?
90.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings ILCB also owns. 90.1% of QQQ's is in holdings ILCB also owns. They hold 88 positions in common, counted across the 527 positions we hold weights for in ILCB and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, ILCB or QQQ?
ILCB yields 0.96% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so ILCB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ILCB?
ILCB has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. ILCB is less concentrated, with 37.4% 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.