IWF vs QQQ
iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IWF or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%.
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 | IWF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Tie | 0.18%Tie |
| AUM | $123.8B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 372 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +7.71% | +22.20%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.61% | +24.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.30% | +28.38%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | +15.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4%Best | 22.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -66.8%Best | -80.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,384 | $20,823Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.8% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 22, 2000 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2000 to Sep 22, 2026 (26.3 years).
IWF 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 26.3 years both funds cover.
IWF vs QQQ Performance
iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) 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 IWF returned +7.61% while QQQ returned +24.58%. Year to date, IWF is up 7.71% versus a gain of 22.20% for QQQ.
Over three years, IWF compounded at +24.30% per year against +28.38% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +12.95% and +15.80% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +9.11% annualized vs +7.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.5% compared with 17.4% for IWF. 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 -66.8% for IWF and -80.5% 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWF charges 0.18% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $18 annually. On income, IWF currently yields 0.35% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
73.2% of IWF's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 81.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings IWF also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside IWF. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
61 positions in common, counted across the 367 positions we hold weights for in IWF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 372 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 35 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IWF (16.3% of the fund), and 241 for IWF that do not appear in QQQ (26.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IWF | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 15.45% | 8.44% | 7.01% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.45% | 7.27% | 0.18% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.65% | 5.76% | 0.11% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 5.93% | 3.36% | 2.57% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.17% | 3.16% | 2.01% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 4.78% | 3.13% | 1.65% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.24% | 4.43% | 1.19% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.09% | 2.78% | 0.31% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 3.22% | 2.56% | 0.66% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.30% | 3.45% | 1.15% |
81.2% of QQQ is already inside IWF.
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, IWF or QQQ?
IWF has an expense ratio of 0.18% while QQQ charges 0.18%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, IWF or QQQ?
Over the past year IWF returned +7.61% vs +24.58% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IWF annualized +7.50% vs +9.11% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWF or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 22.5% annualized versus 17.4% for IWF. Worst drawdown: IWF -66.8% vs QQQ -80.5%.
Should I hold both IWF and QQQ?
IWF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, 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 IWF and QQQ?
81.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings IWF also owns. 81.2% of QQQ's is in holdings IWF also owns. They hold 61 positions in common, counted across the 367 positions we hold weights for in IWF and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWF or QQQ?
IWF yields 0.35% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IWF?
QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.