AOK vs QQQ
iShares Core 30/70 Conservative Allocation ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, AOK or QQQ?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Growth.
AOK has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | AOK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $797M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.36% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 9 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +3.17% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.32% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.22% | +25.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.45% | +15.24%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.0%Best | 17.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.9%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,848 | $20,324Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 4, 2008 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 10, 2008 to Sep 18, 2026 (17.9 years).
AOK 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AOK vs QQQ Performance
iShares Core 30/70 Conservative Allocation ETF (AOK) 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 AOK returned +5.32% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, AOK is up 3.17% versus a gain of 17.95% for QQQ.
Over three years, AOK compounded at +9.22% per year against +25.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.45% and +15.24% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.54% annualized vs +3.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 6.0% for AOK. 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 -18.9% for AOK 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AOK charges 0.15% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $18 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AOK currently yields 3.36% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8 holdings in AOK and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.8% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 8 positions we hold weights for in AOK and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 9 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for AOK (97.5% of the fund), and 8 for AOK that do not appear in QQQ (99.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AOK 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, AOK or QQQ?
AOK has an expense ratio of 0.15% while QQQ charges 0.18%. AOK is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AOK or QQQ?
Over the past year AOK returned +5.32% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), AOK annualized +3.68% vs +19.54% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AOK or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 6.0% for AOK. Worst drawdown: AOK -18.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both AOK and QQQ?
AOK 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, AOK or QQQ?
AOK yields 3.36% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so AOK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than AOK?
AOK has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.