IWV vs QQQ
iShares Russell 3000 ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IWV or QQQ?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IWV is less concentrated, with 33.5% 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 | IWV | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $20.2B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.85% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 2,596 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +12.39% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.88% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.63% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.78% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6%Best | 22.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.7%Best | -80.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,451 | $19,586Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.5%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | 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 11, 2026 (26.3 years).
IWV 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.
IWV vs QQQ Performance
iShares Russell 3000 ETF (IWV) 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 IWV returned +16.88% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, IWV is up 12.39% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, IWV compounded at +20.63% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +11.78% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +8.94% annualized vs +7.16%.
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 15.6% for IWV. 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 -56.7% for IWV 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWV charges 0.20% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $18 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWV currently yields 0.85% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
47.7% of IWV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 95.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings IWV also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside IWV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
91 positions in common, counted across the 2,574 positions we hold weights for in IWV and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 2,596 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IWV (1.7% of the fund), and 1,074 for IWV that do not appear in QQQ (49.6%).
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 IWV | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.62% | 8.44% | 1.82% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.99% | 7.27% | 1.28% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.91% | 5.76% | 0.85% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.61% | 4.67% | 1.06% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.95% | 3.36% | 0.41% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.35% | 4.43% | 3.08% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.61% | 3.16% | 0.55% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.39% | 3.13% | 0.74% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 1.13% | 3.45% | 2.32% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.73% | 2.78% | 1.05% |
95.3% of QQQ is already inside IWV.
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, IWV or QQQ?
IWV has an expense ratio of 0.20% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWV or QQQ?
Over the past year IWV returned +16.88% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IWV annualized +7.16% vs +8.94% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWV or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 22.5% annualized versus 15.6% for IWV. Worst drawdown: IWV -56.7% vs QQQ -80.5%.
Should I hold both IWV and QQQ?
IWV and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 IWV and QQQ?
95.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings IWV also owns. 95.3% of QQQ's is in holdings IWV also owns. They hold 91 positions in common, counted across the 2,574 positions we hold weights for in IWV and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWV or QQQ?
IWV yields 0.85% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IWV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IWV?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IWV is less concentrated, with 33.5% 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.