IGF vs QQQ
iShares Global Infrastructure ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IGF or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IGF is less concentrated, with 39.3% 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 | IGF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $10.4B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.96% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 98 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +3.42% | +17.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.73% | +21.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.65% | +25.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.62% | +15.24%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5%Best | 19.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -59.5% | -51.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,829 | $20,324Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.3%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2007 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2007 to Sep 18, 2026 (18.8 years).
IGF 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.
IGF vs QQQ Performance
iShares Global Infrastructure ETF (IGF) 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 IGF returned +7.73% while QQQ returned +21.77%. Year to date, IGF is up 3.42% versus a gain of 17.95% for QQQ.
Over three years, IGF compounded at +14.65% per year against +25.63% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +9.62% and +15.24% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.27% annualized vs +2.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% compared with 16.5% for IGF. 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 -59.5% for IGF and -51.3% 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IGF charges 0.37% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $37 vs $18 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IGF currently yields 2.96% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
6.8% of IGF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings IGF also owns.
IGF and QQQ share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in IGF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 98 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 92 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IGF (96.4% of the fund), and 23 for IGF that do not appear in QQQ (33.5%).
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 IGF 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, IGF or QQQ?
IGF has an expense ratio of 0.37% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IGF or QQQ?
Over the past year IGF returned +7.73% vs +21.77% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), IGF annualized +2.04% vs +15.27% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IGF or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 16.5% for IGF. Worst drawdown: IGF -59.5% vs QQQ -51.3%.
Should I hold both IGF and QQQ?
IGF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 IGF and QQQ?
6.8% of IGF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 1.1% of QQQ's is in holdings IGF also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in IGF and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IGF or QQQ?
IGF yields 2.96% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IGF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IGF?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IGF is less concentrated, with 39.3% 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.