IAE vs QQQ

IAE vs QQQ

Which is better, IAE or QQQ?

Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. IAE led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. IAE is less concentrated, with 38.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: splitLess Concentrated: IAE

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

MetricIAEQQQ
Expense Ratio1.21%0.18%Best
AUM$95M$506.1B
Dividend Yield8.68%0.42%
Holdings271321
Volatility (annualized)22.2%18.8%Best
Max Drawdown-78.5%-53.5%Best
$10,000 over 19.5 years$5,293$175,594Best
Top 10 Weight38.1%Best46.7%
Fund FamilyVoya Investment ManagementInvesco (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Growth
InceptionMar 27, 2007Mar 10, 1999

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

The two price series end 17 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IAE has data through Oct 13, 2026 and QQQ through Oct 30, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 19.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 28, 2007 to Oct 13, 2026 (19.5 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

IAE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.2% compared with 18.8% for QQQ. 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 -78.5% for IAE 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

IAE charges 1.21% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $121 vs $18 annually, a gap of $103 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IAE currently yields 8.68% against 0.42% for QQQ.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 248 holdings in IAE and 101 in QQQ, totalling 98.4% and 99.6% 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 248 positions we hold weights for in IAE and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 271 and 321.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 94 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IAE (97.2% of the fund), and 8 for IAE that do not appear in QQQ (3.8%).

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

IAEQQQ

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, IAE or QQQ?

IAE has an expense ratio of 1.21% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $103 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, IAE or QQQ?

IAE has been the more volatile fund at 22.2% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: IAE -78.5% vs QQQ -53.5%.

Should I hold both IAE and QQQ?

IAE 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.

Which pays a higher dividend, IAE or QQQ?

IAE yields 8.68% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so IAE currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is QQQ better than IAE?

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. IAE led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. IAE is less concentrated, with 38.1% 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.