IWR vs QQQ
iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IWR or QQQ?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IWR is less concentrated, with 6.1% 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 | IWR | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Tie | 0.18%Tie |
| AUM | $56.2B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.13% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 831 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +13.18% | +15.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.86% | +20.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.71% | +24.86%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.89% | +14.26%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0%Best | 20.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -59.7% | -54.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,619 | $19,475Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.1%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 17, 2001 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 20, 2001 to Sep 14, 2026 (25.2 years).
IWR 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 25.2 years both funds cover.
IWR vs QQQ Performance
iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF (IWR) 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 IWR returned +14.86% while QQQ returned +20.44%. Year to date, IWR is up 13.18% versus a gain of 15.94% for QQQ.
Over three years, IWR compounded at +16.71% per year against +24.86% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +7.89% and +14.26% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.07% annualized vs +8.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 17.0% for IWR. 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 -59.7% for IWR and -54.3% 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWR charges 0.18% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $18 annually. On income, IWR currently yields 1.13% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
9.0% of IWR's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 5.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings IWR also owns.
IWR and QQQ share little of their money.
28 positions in common, counted across the 810 positions we hold weights for in IWR and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 831 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 68 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IWR (91.7% of the fund), and 751 for IWR that do not appear in QQQ (87.3%).
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 IWR | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DDOGDatadog Inc | 0.56% | 0.41% | 0.15% |
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 0.49% | 0.29% | 0.20% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.47% | 0.28% | 0.19% |
| BKRBaker Hughes Co | 0.45% | 0.27% | 0.18% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 0.39% | 0.27% | 0.12% |
| FASTFastenal Co. | 0.41% | 0.25% | 0.16% |
| ADSKAutodesk, Inc. | 0.39% | 0.22% | 0.17% |
| ALABAstera Labs Inc - Common | 0.33% | 0.24% | 0.09% |
| PYPLPaypay Holdings, Inc. | 0.34% | 0.22% | 0.12% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.34% | 0.21% | 0.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IWR 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, IWR or QQQ?
IWR 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, IWR or QQQ?
Over the past year IWR returned +14.86% vs +20.44% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IWR annualized +8.61% vs +12.07% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWR or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 17.0% for IWR. Worst drawdown: IWR -59.7% vs QQQ -54.3%.
Should I hold both IWR and QQQ?
IWR and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 IWR and QQQ?
9.0% of IWR's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 5.8% of QQQ's is in holdings IWR also owns. They hold 28 positions in common, counted across the 810 positions we hold weights for in IWR and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWR or QQQ?
IWR yields 1.13% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IWR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IWR?
QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IWR is less concentrated, with 6.1% 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.