IPAC vs QQQ
iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IPAC or QQQ?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
IPAC has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IPAC is less concentrated, with 18.4% 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 | IPAC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $2.8B | $486.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.82% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 1,383 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +18.39%Best | +17.44% |
| 1Y Return | +22.05% | +24.69%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.95% | +24.76%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.24% | +14.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8%Best | 18.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Tie | -35.1%Tie |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,857 | $19,441Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 18.4%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 10, 2014 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 12, 2014 to Sep 8, 2026 (12.2 years).
IPAC 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 12.2 years both funds cover.
IPAC vs QQQ Performance
iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF (IPAC) 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 IPAC returned +22.05% while QQQ returned +24.69%. Year to date, IPAC is up 18.39% versus a gain of 17.44% for QQQ.
Over three years, IPAC compounded at +18.95% per year against +24.76% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.24% and +14.22% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.59% annualized vs +6.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 13.8% for IPAC. 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 -35.1% for IPAC 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IPAC charges 0.09% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $18 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IPAC currently yields 3.82% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,366 holdings in IPAC and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.3% 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 1,366 positions we hold weights for in IPAC and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1,383 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 94 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IPAC (96.8% of the fund), and 6 for IPAC that do not appear in QQQ (0.2%).
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 IPAC 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, IPAC or QQQ?
IPAC has an expense ratio of 0.09% while QQQ charges 0.18%. IPAC is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IPAC or QQQ?
Over the past year IPAC returned +22.05% vs +24.69% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), IPAC annualized +6.13% vs +18.59% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IPAC or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 13.8% for IPAC. Worst drawdown: IPAC -35.1% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both IPAC and QQQ?
IPAC and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, IPAC or QQQ?
IPAC yields 3.82% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IPAC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IPAC?
IPAC has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IPAC is less concentrated, with 18.4% 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.