ISTB vs QQQ
iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ISTB or QQQ?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Growth.
ISTB 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 | ISTB | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $5.1B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.28% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 7,038 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +0.34% | +15.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.52% | +22.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.98% | +24.15%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.87% | +14.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.2%Best | 17.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -50.1% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,971 | $19,390Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2012 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2012 to Sep 10, 2026 (13.9 years).
ISTB 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.
ISTB vs QQQ Performance
iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) 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 ISTB returned +1.52% while QQQ returned +22.63%. Year to date, ISTB is up 0.34% versus a gain of 15.86% for QQQ.
Over three years, ISTB compounded at +4.98% per year against +24.15% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +1.87% and +14.16% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.92% annualized vs +0.91%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 2.2% for ISTB. 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 -50.1% for ISTB 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 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISTB charges 0.06% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $18 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISTB currently yields 4.28% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings ISTB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ISTB, our book for it covers 52.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and ISTB share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 2,218 positions we hold weights for in ISTB and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 7,038 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISTB 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, ISTB or QQQ?
ISTB has an expense ratio of 0.06% while QQQ charges 0.18%. ISTB is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISTB or QQQ?
Over the past year ISTB returned +1.52% vs +22.63% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), ISTB annualized +0.91% vs +18.92% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISTB or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 2.2% for ISTB. Worst drawdown: ISTB -50.1% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both ISTB and QQQ?
ISTB and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ISTB and QQQ?
At least 1.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings ISTB also owns. Our book for ISTB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 2,218 positions we hold weights for in ISTB and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, ISTB or QQQ?
ISTB yields 4.28% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so ISTB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ISTB?
ISTB 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.