IBTG vs QQQ
iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Treasury ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IBTG or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
IBTG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.8%.
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 | IBTG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $2.0B | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.89% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 17 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +2.61% | +24.32%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.57% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.57% | +28.30%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.11% | +16.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.3%Best | 20.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.9%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,567 | $21,766Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.8% | 47.2%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 25, 2020 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2020 to Oct 6, 2026 (6.6 years).
IBTG 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.
IBTG vs QQQ Performance
iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Treasury ETF (IBTG) 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 IBTG returned +3.57% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, IBTG is up 2.61% versus a gain of 24.32% for QQQ.
Over three years, IBTG compounded at +4.57% per year against +28.30% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +1.11% and +16.83% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +22.49% annualized vs +1.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.8% compared with 3.3% for IBTG. 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 -13.9% for IBTG 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 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IBTG charges 0.07% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $18 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IBTG currently yields 3.89% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 16 holdings in IBTG and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 16 positions we hold weights for in IBTG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 17 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 16 and 102 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 96 positions IBTG does not, 97.8% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.45%, AAPL 7.80%, MSFT 5.88%, MU 4.85%, AMZN 4.41%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IBTG 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, IBTG or QQQ?
IBTG has an expense ratio of 0.07% while QQQ charges 0.18%. IBTG is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IBTG or QQQ?
Over the past year IBTG returned +3.57% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), IBTG annualized +1.03% vs +22.49% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IBTG or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.8% annualized versus 3.3% for IBTG. Worst drawdown: IBTG -13.9% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both IBTG and QQQ?
IBTG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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, IBTG or QQQ?
IBTG yields 3.89% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so IBTG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IBTG?
IBTG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.