ILF vs QQQ
iShares Latin America 40 ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ILF or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. ILF led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.7%.
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 | ILF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 52 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +13.82% | +21.16%Best |
| 1Y Return | +25.01%Best | +24.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.58% | +27.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.66% | +15.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.8% | 19.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -74.4% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,149 | $20,430Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.7% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 25, 2001 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 26, 2001 to Sep 24, 2026 (24.9 years).
ILF 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 24.9 years both funds cover.
ILF vs QQQ Performance
iShares Latin America 40 ETF (ILF) 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 ILF returned +25.01% while QQQ returned +24.78%. Year to date, ILF is up 13.82% versus a gain of 21.16% for QQQ.
Over three years, ILF compounded at +16.58% per year against +27.95% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +12.66% and +15.36% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.05% annualized vs +7.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ILF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.8% compared with 19.6% for QQQ. 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 -74.4% for ILF 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ILF charges 0.47% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $18 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILF currently yields 3.38% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 42 holdings in ILF and 102 in QQQ, totalling 98.8% 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 42 positions we hold weights for in ILF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 52 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ILF (97.5% of the fund), and 10 for ILF that do not appear in QQQ (31.9%).
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 ILF 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, ILF or QQQ?
ILF has an expense ratio of 0.47% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ILF or QQQ?
Over the past year ILF returned +25.01% vs +24.78% for QQQ, so ILF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), ILF annualized +7.48% vs +13.05% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ILF or QQQ?
ILF has been the more volatile fund at 26.8% annualized versus 19.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: ILF -74.4% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both ILF and QQQ?
ILF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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, ILF or QQQ?
ILF yields 3.38% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so ILF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ILF?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. ILF led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.