IYJ vs QQQ
iShares US Industrials ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IYJ or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IYJ is less concentrated, with 36.6% 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 | IYJ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.9B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.69% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 215 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +3.79% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.96% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.02% | +26.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.98% | +15.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6%Best | 21.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -62.8%Best | -70.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,680 | $20,484Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.6%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 12, 2000 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 2001 to Oct 14, 2026 (25.8 years).
IYJ 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 25.8 years both funds cover.
IYJ vs QQQ Performance
iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) 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 IYJ returned +6.96% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, IYJ is up 3.79% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Over three years, IYJ compounded at +16.02% per year against +26.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +7.98% and +15.42% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +10.81% annualized vs +7.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.6% compared with 18.6% for IYJ. 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 -62.8% for IYJ and -70.4% 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYJ charges 0.37% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $37 vs $18 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IYJ currently yields 0.69% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
7.7% of IYJ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings IYJ also owns.
IYJ and QQQ share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 215 positions we hold weights for in IYJ and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 215 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 82 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IYJ (93.6% of the fund), and 196 for IYJ that do not appear in QQQ (87.4%).
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 IYJ | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 1.32% | 0.43% | 0.89% |
| CSXCsx Corp. | 1.08% | 0.36% | 0.72% |
| CTASCintas Corp. | 0.83% | 0.33% | 0.50% |
| HONHoneywell International Inc | 0.85% | 0.28% | 0.57% |
| PCARPaccar Inc. | 0.71% | 0.24% | 0.47% |
| HONAHoneywell Aerospace Inc | 0.61% | 0.21% | 0.40% |
| PYPLPaypal Holdings Inc | 0.57% | 0.19% | 0.38% |
| RKLBRocket Lab Corp | 0.49% | 0.17% | 0.32% |
| ODFLOld Dominion Freig | 0.42% | 0.15% | 0.27% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 0.41% | 0.15% | 0.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IYJ 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, IYJ or QQQ?
IYJ has an expense ratio of 0.37% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IYJ or QQQ?
Over the past year IYJ returned +6.96% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IYJ annualized +7.28% vs +10.81% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYJ or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.6% annualized versus 18.6% for IYJ. Worst drawdown: IYJ -62.8% vs QQQ -70.4%.
Should I hold both IYJ and QQQ?
IYJ and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 IYJ and QQQ?
7.7% of IYJ's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 2.6% of QQQ's is in holdings IYJ also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 215 positions we hold weights for in IYJ and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYJ or QQQ?
IYJ yields 0.69% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so IYJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IYJ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IYJ is less concentrated, with 36.6% 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.