ILOW vs QQQ
AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ILOW or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. ILOW is less concentrated, with 21.0% 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 | ILOW | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 102 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +6.00% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.93% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +26.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.42% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.2%Best | 17.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.4%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $13,279 | $14,738Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.0%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | AllianceBernstein L.P. | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 15, 2024 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 15, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.2 years).
ILOW 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 covers the 2.2 years both funds cover.
ILOW vs QQQ Performance
AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF (ILOW) is an ETF from AllianceBernstein L.P. and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year ILOW returned +8.93% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, ILOW is up 6.00% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 10.2% for ILOW. 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 -10.4% for ILOW and -22.8% 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 0.25. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ILOW charges 0.50% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $18 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILOW currently yields 1.49% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
3.1% of ILOW's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings ILOW also owns.
ILOW and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 85 positions we hold weights for in ILOW and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 102 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 93 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ILOW (96.3% of the fund), and 4 for ILOW that do not appear in QQQ (4.3%).
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 ILOW | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASASML HOLDING NV | 3.12% | 0.71% | 2.41% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ILOW 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, ILOW or QQQ?
ILOW has an expense ratio of 0.50% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ILOW or QQQ?
Over the past year ILOW returned +8.93% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ILOW annualized +13.76% vs +19.28% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ILOW or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 10.2% for ILOW. Worst drawdown: ILOW -10.4% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both ILOW and QQQ?
ILOW and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.25, 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 ILOW and QQQ?
3.1% of ILOW's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.7% of QQQ's is in holdings ILOW also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 85 positions we hold weights for in ILOW and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, ILOW or QQQ?
ILOW yields 1.49% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so ILOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ILOW?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. ILOW is less concentrated, with 21.0% 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.