IQRA vs QQQ

IQRA vs QQQ

Which is better, IQRA or QQQ?

Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. IQRA is less concentrated, with 29.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: QQQLess Concentrated: IQRA

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

MetricIQRAQQQ
Expense Ratio0.65%0.18%Best
AUM$7M$506.1B
Dividend Yield2.65%0.42%
Holdings107321
Volatility (annualized)13.6%Best17.4%
Max Drawdown-15.7%Best-22.8%
$10,000 over 3.3 years$13,298$22,601Best
Top 10 Weight29.1%Best46.7%
Fund FamilyIndexIQ TrustInvesco (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Growth
InceptionMay 10, 2023Mar 10, 1999

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).

The two price series end 48 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IQRA has data through Aug 27, 2026 and QQQ through Oct 14, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 10, 2023 to Aug 27, 2026 (3.3 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 13.6% for IQRA. 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 -15.7% for IQRA 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 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

IQRA charges 0.65% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $18 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IQRA currently yields 2.65% against 0.42% for QQQ.

Holdings Overlap

IQRA already in QQQ4.2%
QQQ already in IQRA0.7%

4.2% of IQRA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings IQRA also owns.

IQRA and QQQ share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 93 days apart, IQRA as of Jun 30, 2026 and QQQ as of Oct 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in IQRA and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 107 and 321.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 91 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IQRA (95.7% of the fund), and 49 for IQRA that do not appear in QQQ (60.2%).

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

StockWeight in IQRAWeight in QQQDifference
XELXcel Energy Inc.3.01%0.18%2.83%
FER:ASFerrovial Se0.92%0.16%0.76%
CEGConstellation Energy Corp0.23%0.38%0.15%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of IQRA and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

IQRAQQQ

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, IQRA or QQQ?

IQRA has an expense ratio of 0.65% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, IQRA or QQQ?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 13.6% for IQRA. Worst drawdown: IQRA -15.7% vs QQQ -22.8%.

Should I hold both IQRA and QQQ?

IQRA and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, 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 IQRA and QQQ?

4.2% of IQRA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.7% of QQQ's is in holdings IQRA also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in IQRA and 101 in QQQ.

Which pays a higher dividend, IQRA or QQQ?

IQRA yields 2.65% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so IQRA currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is QQQ better than IQRA?

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. IQRA is less concentrated, with 29.1% 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.