IWS vs QQQ
iShares Russell Mid-cap Value ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IWS or QQQ?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. IWS led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IWS is less concentrated, with 6.4% 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 | IWS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $15.5B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.30% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 724 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +17.70%Best | +15.94% |
| 1Y Return | +21.67%Best | +20.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.27% | +24.86%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.45% | +14.26%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1%Best | 20.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -63.9% | -54.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,706 | $19,475Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.4%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jul 17, 2001 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 24, 2001 to Sep 14, 2026 (25.1 years).
IWS 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 25.1 years both funds cover.
IWS vs QQQ Performance
iShares Russell Mid-cap Value ETF (IWS) 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 IWS returned +21.67% while QQQ returned +20.44%. Year to date, IWS is up 17.70% versus a gain of 15.94% for QQQ.
Over three years, IWS compounded at +17.27% per year against +24.86% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +9.45% and +14.26% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.24% annualized vs +8.14%.
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 17.1% for IWS. 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 -63.9% for IWS 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWS charges 0.23% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $18 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWS currently yields 1.30% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
5.8% of IWS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings IWS also owns.
IWS and QQQ share little of their money.
16 positions in common, counted across the 687 positions we hold weights for in IWS and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 724 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 80 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IWS (94.4% of the fund), and 642 for IWS that do not appear in QQQ (89.1%).
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 IWS | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 0.66% | 0.29% | 0.37% |
| BKRBaker Hughes Co | 0.60% | 0.27% | 0.33% |
| PYPLPaypay Holdings, Inc. | 0.45% | 0.22% | 0.23% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.45% | 0.21% | 0.24% |
| EXCExelon | 0.43% | 0.21% | 0.22% |
| FANGDiamondback Energy, Inc. | 0.37% | 0.23% | 0.14% |
| ROPRoper Technologies Inc. | 0.42% | 0.17% | 0.25% |
| KDPKeurig Dr Pepper Inc (kdp Us) | 0.40% | 0.18% | 0.22% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 0.39% | 0.19% | 0.20% |
| WDAYWorkday, Inc., Class A | 0.36% | 0.15% | 0.21% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IWS 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, IWS or QQQ?
IWS has an expense ratio of 0.23% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWS or QQQ?
Over the past year IWS returned +21.67% vs +20.44% for QQQ, so IWS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IWS annualized +8.14% vs +12.24% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWS or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 17.1% for IWS. Worst drawdown: IWS -63.9% vs QQQ -54.3%.
Should I hold both IWS and QQQ?
IWS and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 IWS and QQQ?
5.8% of IWS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.2% of QQQ's is in holdings IWS also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 687 positions we hold weights for in IWS and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWS or QQQ?
IWS yields 1.30% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IWS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IWS?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. IWS led over 1Y, QQQ over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IWS is less concentrated, with 6.4% 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.