ACWV vs QQQ
iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ACWV 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. ACWV is less concentrated, with 11.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | ACWV | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3.4B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 437 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +4.61% | +21.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.04% | +25.89%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.17% | +28.80%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.63% | +15.67%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.0%Best | 17.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.8%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,150 | $20,706Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.9%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2011 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 25, 2026 (14.9 years).
ACWV 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
ACWV vs QQQ Performance
iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF (ACWV) 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 ACWV returned +6.04% while QQQ returned +25.89%. Year to date, ACWV is up 4.61% versus a gain of 21.71% for QQQ.
Over three years, ACWV compounded at +11.17% per year against +28.80% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +5.63% and +15.67% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.09% annualized vs +8.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 10.0% for ACWV. 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 -28.8% for ACWV and -35.1% 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACWV charges 0.20% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $18 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACWV currently yields 1.86% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
16.6% of ACWV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 61.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings ACWV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
42 positions in common, counted across the 376 positions we hold weights for in ACWV and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 437 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 55 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ACWV (36.3% of the fund), and 114 for ACWV that do not appear in QQQ (42.5%).
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 ACWV | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.98% | 8.44% | 7.46% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.44% | 7.27% | 6.83% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.31% | 5.76% | 4.45% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.06% | 4.43% | 4.37% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.07% | 3.45% | 3.38% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.37% | 2.10% | 0.73% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.31% | 3.16% | 2.85% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.24% | 3.13% | 2.89% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 0.53% | 2.41% | 1.88% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.42% | 1.84% | 1.42% |
61.9% of QQQ is already inside ACWV.
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, ACWV or QQQ?
ACWV has an expense ratio of 0.20% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACWV or QQQ?
Over the past year ACWV returned +6.04% vs +25.89% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), ACWV annualized +8.29% vs +19.09% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACWV or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 10.0% for ACWV. Worst drawdown: ACWV -28.8% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both ACWV and QQQ?
ACWV and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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 ACWV and QQQ?
61.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings ACWV also owns. 61.9% of QQQ's is in holdings ACWV also owns. They hold 42 positions in common, counted across the 376 positions we hold weights for in ACWV and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACWV or QQQ?
ACWV yields 1.86% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so ACWV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ACWV?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ACWV is less concentrated, with 11.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.