IBDQ vs QQQ
iShares iBonds Dec 2025 Term Corporate ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IBDQ or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
IBDQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 98.2%.
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 | IBDQ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.10%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $2.3B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.75% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 21 | 107 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.1%Best | 18.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.2%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 10.8 years | $14,185 | $59,748Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 98.2% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 11, 2015 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 270 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IBDQ has data through Dec 15, 2025 and QQQ through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 10.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 12, 2015 to Dec 15, 2025 (10.8 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 4.1% for IBDQ. 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 -15.2% for IBDQ 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 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IBDQ charges 0.10% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $10 vs $18 annually, a gap of $8 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IBDQ currently yields 3.75% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 20 holdings in IBDQ and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.2% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 250 days apart, IBDQ as of Nov 28, 2025 and QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 20 positions we hold weights for in IBDQ and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 21 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IBDQ (97.0% of the fund), and 20 for IBDQ that do not appear in QQQ (100.2%).
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 IBDQ 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, IBDQ or QQQ?
IBDQ has an expense ratio of 0.10% while QQQ charges 0.18%. IBDQ is the cheaper option, by $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, IBDQ or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 4.1% for IBDQ. Worst drawdown: IBDQ -15.2% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both IBDQ and QQQ?
IBDQ and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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, IBDQ or QQQ?
IBDQ yields 3.75% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IBDQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IBDQ?
IBDQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 98.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.