ICSH vs QQQ
iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ICSH or QQQ?
Ultrashort Term Bond against Large Cap Growth.
ICSH 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 | ICSH | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.08%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $8.6B | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.27% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 393 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -0.32% | +17.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.75% | +25.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.95% | +24.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.23% | +14.18%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.3%Best | 18.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.3%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,723 | $19,407Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Ultrashort Term Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2013 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 13, 2013 to Sep 4, 2026 (12.7 years).
ICSH 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.
ICSH vs QQQ Performance
iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH) 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 ICSH returned +0.75% while QQQ returned +25.59%. Year to date, ICSH is down 0.32% versus a gain of 17.54% for QQQ.
Over three years, ICSH compounded at +3.95% per year against +24.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +3.23% and +14.18% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.59% annualized vs +2.09%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% compared with 10.3% for ICSH. 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 -23.3% for ICSH 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 0.04. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ICSH charges 0.08% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $8 vs $18 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ICSH currently yields 4.27% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 117 holdings in ICSH and 102 in QQQ, totalling 20.6% 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 117 positions we hold weights for in ICSH and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 393 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ICSH 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, ICSH or QQQ?
ICSH has an expense ratio of 0.08% while QQQ charges 0.18%. ICSH is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ICSH or QQQ?
Over the past year ICSH returned +0.75% vs +25.59% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), ICSH annualized +2.09% vs +18.59% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ICSH or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 10.3% for ICSH. Worst drawdown: ICSH -23.3% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both ICSH and QQQ?
ICSH and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.04, 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, ICSH or QQQ?
ICSH yields 4.27% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so ICSH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ICSH?
ICSH 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.