IBUY vs QQQ
Amplify Online Retail ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IBUY or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IBUY is less concentrated, with 28.8% 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 | IBUY | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $125M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 86 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -7.82% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | -9.62% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.52% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -9.69% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.9% | 18.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.0% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $6,007 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.8%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2016 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2016 to Sep 11, 2026 (10.4 years).
IBUY 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 10.4 years both funds cover.
IBUY vs QQQ Performance
Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year IBUY returned -9.62% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, IBUY is down 7.82% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, IBUY compounded at +13.52% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -9.69% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.04% annualized vs +10.09%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IBUY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.9% 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 -73.0% for IBUY 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IBUY charges 0.65% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $18 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IBUY currently yields 0.42% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
18.9% of IBUY's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 17.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings IBUY also owns.
IBUY and QQQ share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 83 positions we hold weights for in IBUY and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 86 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 86 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IBUY (80.6% of the fund), and 42 for IBUY that do not appear in QQQ (62.4%).
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 IBUY | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.61% | 7.27% | 6.66% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.13% | 4.67% | 2.54% |
| DASHDoordash Inc | 3.11% | 0.37% | 2.74% |
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 2.66% | 0.70% | 1.96% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 2.95% | 0.28% | 2.67% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 0.45% | 2.41% | 1.96% |
| PYPLPaypal Holdings Inc | 2.56% | 0.22% | 2.34% |
| CPRTCopart Inc | 2.22% | 0.12% | 2.10% |
| SHOP:CAShopify Inc. | 0.94% | 0.77% | 0.17% |
| MELIMercadolibre Inc | 0.71% | 0.43% | 0.28% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IBUY 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, IBUY or QQQ?
IBUY has an expense ratio of 0.65% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IBUY or QQQ?
Over the past year IBUY returned -9.62% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), IBUY annualized +10.09% vs +20.04% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IBUY or QQQ?
IBUY has been the more volatile fund at 28.9% annualized versus 18.8% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: IBUY -73.0% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both IBUY and QQQ?
IBUY and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 IBUY and QQQ?
18.9% of IBUY's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 17.5% of QQQ's is in holdings IBUY also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 83 positions we hold weights for in IBUY and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IBUY or QQQ?
IBUY yields 0.42% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IBUY?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IBUY is less concentrated, with 28.8% 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.