IVAL vs QQQ
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Value ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IVAL or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVAL is less concentrated, with 21.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | IVAL | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $219M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.54% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 116 | 321 |
| YTD Return | +15.75% | +22.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.27% | +24.33%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.50% | +29.05%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.55% | +17.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3%Best | 18.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -49.2% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,272 | $21,924Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.0%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 16, 2014 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 17, 2014 to Oct 2, 2026 (11.8 years).
IVAL 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
IVAL vs QQQ Performance
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Value ETF (IVAL) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year IVAL returned +22.27% while QQQ returned +24.33%. Year to date, IVAL is up 15.75% versus a gain of 22.67% for QQQ.
Over three years, IVAL compounded at +20.50% per year against +29.05% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +11.55% and +17.00% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.78% annualized vs +5.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 17.3% for IVAL. 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 -49.2% for IVAL 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVAL charges 0.38% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $18 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVAL currently yields 2.54% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 51 holdings in IVAL and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 51 positions we hold weights for in IVAL and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 116 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IVAL (97.8% of the fund), and 0 for IVAL that do not appear in QQQ (0.0%).
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 IVAL 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, IVAL or QQQ?
IVAL has an expense ratio of 0.38% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVAL or QQQ?
Over the past year IVAL returned +22.27% vs +24.33% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), IVAL annualized +5.29% vs +18.78% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVAL or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 17.3% for IVAL. Worst drawdown: IVAL -49.2% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both IVAL and QQQ?
IVAL and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, IVAL or QQQ?
IVAL yields 2.54% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so IVAL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IVAL?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVAL is less concentrated, with 21.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.