IXJ vs QQQ
iShares Global Healthcare ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IXJ or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.3%.
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 | IXJ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $4.3B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.41% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 126 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +8.45% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.24% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.45% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.10% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2%Best | 19.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -42.8%Best | -53.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,445 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.3% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 13, 2001 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2001 to Oct 14, 2026 (24.9 years).
IXJ 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 24.9 years both funds cover.
IXJ vs QQQ Performance
iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) 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 IXJ returned +17.24% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, IXJ is up 8.45% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, IXJ compounded at +9.45% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +6.10% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.67% annualized vs +6.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 13.2% for IXJ. 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 -42.8% for IXJ 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IXJ charges 0.38% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $18 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IXJ currently yields 1.41% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
14.3% of IXJ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings IXJ also owns.
IXJ and QQQ share little of their money.
9 positions in common, counted across the 108 positions we hold weights for in IXJ and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 126 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 84 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IXJ (92.5% of the fund), and 53 for IXJ that do not appear in QQQ (62.5%).
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 IXJ | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROPRoper Technologies Inc. | 3.70% | 0.14% | 3.56% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 2.76% | 0.95% | 1.81% |
| GILDGilead Sciences Inc | 2.30% | 0.77% | 1.53% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc | 1.78% | 0.60% | 1.18% |
| VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 1.61% | 0.55% | 1.06% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 0.91% | 0.32% | 0.59% |
| IDXXIDEXX Laboratories Inc | 0.51% | 0.17% | 0.34% |
| DXCMDexcom, Inc | 0.41% | 0.14% | 0.27% |
| GEHCGe Healthcare Technologies Inc | 0.36% | 0.12% | 0.24% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IXJ 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, IXJ or QQQ?
IXJ has an expense ratio of 0.38% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IXJ or QQQ?
Over the past year IXJ returned +17.24% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IXJ annualized +6.19% vs +12.67% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IXJ or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 13.2% for IXJ. Worst drawdown: IXJ -42.8% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both IXJ and QQQ?
IXJ and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 IXJ and QQQ?
14.3% of IXJ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.8% of QQQ's is in holdings IXJ also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 108 positions we hold weights for in IXJ and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IXJ or QQQ?
IXJ yields 1.41% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so IXJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IXJ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.