ILCG vs QQQ
iShares Morningstar Growth ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ILCG or QQQ?
Nearly the same fund. ILCG costs less.
ILCG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%.
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 | ILCG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $3.1B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 331 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +9.20% | +15.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.79% | +22.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.25% | +24.15%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.18% | +14.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9%Best | 18.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.2%Best | -53.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,988 | $19,390Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.3% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2004 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 2, 2004 to Sep 10, 2026 (22.2 years).
ILCG 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 22.2 years both funds cover.
ILCG vs QQQ Performance
iShares Morningstar Growth ETF (ILCG) 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 ILCG returned +11.79% while QQQ returned +22.63%. Year to date, ILCG is up 9.20% versus a gain of 15.86% for QQQ.
Over three years, ILCG compounded at +22.25% per year against +24.15% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +11.18% and +14.16% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.42% annualized vs +10.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 16.9% for ILCG. 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 -53.2% for ILCG 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ILCG 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, ILCG currently yields 0.43% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
67.7% of ILCG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 82.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings ILCG also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside ILCG. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
65 positions in common, counted across the 326 positions we hold weights for in ILCG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 331 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 30 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ILCG (14.4% of the fund), and 252 for ILCG that do not appear in QQQ (31.7%).
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 ILCG | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 15.64% | 8.44% | 7.20% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.95% | 7.27% | 0.32% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.48% | 4.67% | 0.19% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.93% | 3.16% | 2.77% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.71% | 5.76% | 3.05% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.67% | 3.36% | 0.31% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.68% | 4.43% | 2.75% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.94% | 3.13% | 0.19% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 2.39% | 3.45% | 1.06% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.71% | 2.56% | 0.85% |
82.6% of QQQ is already inside ILCG.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ILCG or QQQ?
ILCG has an expense ratio of 0.04% while QQQ charges 0.18%. ILCG is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ILCG or QQQ?
Over the past year ILCG returned +11.79% vs +22.63% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), ILCG annualized +10.85% vs +14.42% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ILCG or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 16.9% for ILCG. Worst drawdown: ILCG -53.2% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both ILCG and QQQ?
ILCG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ILCG and QQQ?
82.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings ILCG also owns. 82.6% of QQQ's is in holdings ILCG also owns. They hold 65 positions in common, counted across the 326 positions we hold weights for in ILCG and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, ILCG or QQQ?
ILCG yields 0.43% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ILCG?
ILCG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.