IGSB vs QQQ
iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IGSB or QQQ?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Growth.
IGSB 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 | IGSB | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $23.3B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.61% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 4,645 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -0.10% | +21.16%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.17% | +24.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.44% | +27.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.33% | +15.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.7%Best | 18.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.4%Best | -53.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,221 | $20,430Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 5, 2007 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 11, 2007 to Sep 24, 2026 (19.7 years).
IGSB 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.
IGSB vs QQQ Performance
iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (IGSB) 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 IGSB returned +1.17% while QQQ returned +24.78%. Year to date, IGSB is down 0.10% versus a gain of 21.16% for QQQ.
Over three years, IGSB compounded at +5.44% per year against +27.95% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +2.33% and +15.36% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.46% annualized vs +1.08%.
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 2.7% for IGSB. 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 -13.4% for IGSB and -53.5% 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 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IGSB charges 0.04% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $18 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IGSB currently yields 4.61% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings IGSB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for IGSB, our book for it covers 32.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,108 positions we hold weights for in IGSB and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 4,645 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IGSB | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Us Inc Com Usd0.00001 | 0.17% | 0.82% | 0.65% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IGSB 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, IGSB or QQQ?
IGSB has an expense ratio of 0.04% while QQQ charges 0.18%. IGSB is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IGSB or QQQ?
Over the past year IGSB returned +1.17% vs +24.78% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), IGSB annualized +1.08% vs +15.46% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IGSB or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 2.7% for IGSB. Worst drawdown: IGSB -13.4% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both IGSB and QQQ?
IGSB and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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, IGSB or QQQ?
IGSB yields 4.61% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IGSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IGSB?
IGSB 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.