IGRO vs QQQ
iShares International Dividend Growth ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IGRO or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
IGRO has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IGRO is less concentrated, with 27.2% 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 | IGRO | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $1.3B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.63% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 584 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +9.68% | +17.11%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.41% | +23.99%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.53% | +24.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.47% | +14.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 18.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -37.0% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,016 | $19,449Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.2%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 17, 2016 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2016 to Sep 9, 2026 (10.3 years).
IGRO 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 10.3 years both funds cover.
IGRO vs QQQ Performance
iShares International Dividend Growth ETF (IGRO) 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 IGRO returned +16.41% while QQQ returned +23.99%. Year to date, IGRO is up 9.68% versus a gain of 17.11% for QQQ.
Over three years, IGRO compounded at +16.53% per year against +24.62% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.47% and +14.23% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.82% annualized vs +7.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 14.7% for IGRO. 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 -37.0% for IGRO 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IGRO charges 0.15% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $18 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IGRO currently yields 2.63% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
2.8% of IGRO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings IGRO also owns.
IGRO and QQQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 524 positions we hold weights for in IGRO and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 584 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IGRO (96.9% of the fund), and 6 for IGRO that do not appear in QQQ (3.7%).
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 IGRO | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROPRoper Technologies Inc. | 2.77% | 0.17% | 2.60% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IGRO 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, IGRO or QQQ?
IGRO has an expense ratio of 0.15% while QQQ charges 0.18%. IGRO is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IGRO or QQQ?
Over the past year IGRO returned +16.41% vs +23.99% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), IGRO annualized +7.83% vs +20.82% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IGRO or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 14.7% for IGRO. Worst drawdown: IGRO -37.0% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both IGRO and QQQ?
IGRO 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 IGRO and QQQ?
2.8% of IGRO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.2% of QQQ's is in holdings IGRO also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 524 positions we hold weights for in IGRO and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IGRO or QQQ?
IGRO yields 2.63% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IGRO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IGRO?
IGRO has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IGRO is less concentrated, with 27.2% 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.