IJJ vs QQQ
iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IJJ or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IJJ is less concentrated, with 10.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | IJJ | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Tie | 0.18%Tie |
| AUM | $8.4B | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.60% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 616 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +6.94% | +23.76%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.30% | +25.02%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.61% | +28.26%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.95% | +16.87%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3%Best | 22.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -59.6%Best | -80.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,659 | $21,803Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.6%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 24, 2000 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 28, 2000 to Oct 5, 2026 (26.2 years).
IJJ 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 26.2 years both funds cover.
IJJ vs QQQ Performance
iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (IJJ) 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 IJJ returned +9.30% while QQQ returned +25.02%. Year to date, IJJ is up 6.94% versus a gain of 23.76% for QQQ.
Over three years, IJJ compounded at +14.61% per year against +28.26% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +7.95% and +16.87% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +8.75% annualized vs +8.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.4% compared with 18.3% for IJJ. 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 -59.6% for IJJ and -80.5% 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IJJ charges 0.18% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $18 annually. On income, IJJ currently yields 1.60% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 297 holdings in IJJ and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.7% 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 297 positions we hold weights for in IJJ and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 616 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IJJ (97.8% of the fund), and 293 for IJJ that do not appear in QQQ (98.0%).
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 IJJ 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, IJJ or QQQ?
IJJ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while QQQ charges 0.18%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, IJJ or QQQ?
Over the past year IJJ returned +9.30% vs +25.02% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IJJ annualized +8.61% vs +8.75% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IJJ or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 22.4% annualized versus 18.3% for IJJ. Worst drawdown: IJJ -59.6% vs QQQ -80.5%.
Should I hold both IJJ and QQQ?
IJJ and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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, IJJ or QQQ?
IJJ yields 1.60% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so IJJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IJJ?
QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IJJ is less concentrated, with 10.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.