ITOT vs QQQ
iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ITOT or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
ITOT has a lower expense ratio. ITOT led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. ITOT is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.
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 | ITOT | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $97.9B | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 2,502 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +11.41% | +13.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.37%Best | +10.81% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.14% | +26.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.86% | +12.94%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9%Best | 18.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.3% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,745 | $18,375Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.6%Best | 46.7% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2004 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 23, 2004 to Oct 30, 2026 (22.8 years).
ITOT 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 22.8 years both funds cover.
ITOT vs QQQ Performance
iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF (ITOT) 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 ITOT returned +12.37% while QQQ returned +10.81%. Year to date, ITOT is up 11.41% versus a gain of 13.00% for QQQ.
Over three years, ITOT compounded at +23.14% per year against +26.04% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +10.86% and +12.94% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.75% annualized vs +9.01%.
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 14.9% for ITOT. 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 -56.3% for ITOT 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ITOT charges 0.03% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $18 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ITOT currently yields 1.01% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
49.9% of ITOT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 96.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings ITOT also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside ITOT. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
92 positions in common, counted across the 2,433 positions we hold weights for in ITOT and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 2,502 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ITOT (0.9% of the fund), and 1,048 for ITOT that do not appear in QQQ (47.6%).
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 ITOT | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.52% | 8.33% | 0.81% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.49% | 7.35% | 0.86% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.12% | 5.76% | 0.64% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.28% | 4.07% | 0.79% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.67% | 5.02% | 3.35% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 2.67% | 3.05% | 0.38% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.35% | 4.17% | 2.82% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.15% | 3.26% | 1.11% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.14% | 2.85% | 0.71% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.20% | 2.53% | 0.33% |
96.3% of QQQ is already inside ITOT.
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, ITOT or QQQ?
ITOT has an expense ratio of 0.03% while QQQ charges 0.18%. ITOT is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ITOT or QQQ?
Over the past year ITOT returned +12.37% vs +10.81% for QQQ, so ITOT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), ITOT annualized +9.01% vs +13.75% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ITOT or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 14.9% for ITOT. Worst drawdown: ITOT -56.3% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both ITOT and QQQ?
ITOT and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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 ITOT and QQQ?
96.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings ITOT also owns. 96.3% of QQQ's is in holdings ITOT also owns. They hold 92 positions in common, counted across the 2,433 positions we hold weights for in ITOT and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, ITOT or QQQ?
ITOT yields 1.01% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so ITOT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ITOT?
ITOT has a lower expense ratio. ITOT led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. ITOT is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.