IXG vs QQQ
iShares Global Financials ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IXG or QQQ?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. IXG led over 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over 1Y and the full window. IXG is less concentrated, with 30.2% 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 | IXG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $693M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.11% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 247 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +11.59% | +15.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.19% | +20.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.51%Best | +24.86% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.38%Best | +14.26% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.9% | 19.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.0% | -53.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,577Best | $19,475 |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.2%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 12, 2001 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2001 to Sep 14, 2026 (24.8 years).
IXG 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 24.8 years both funds cover.
IXG vs QQQ Performance
iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG) 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 IXG returned +17.19% while QQQ returned +20.44%. Year to date, IXG is up 11.59% versus a gain of 15.94% for QQQ.
Over three years, IXG compounded at +25.51% per year against +24.86% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +14.38% and +14.26% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.50% annualized vs +4.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IXG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% compared with 19.4% for QQQ. 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 -80.0% for IXG and -53.5% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IXG 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, IXG currently yields 2.11% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of IXG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 0.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings IXG also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 222 positions we hold weights for in IXG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 247 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 95 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IXG (97.3% of the fund), and 79 for IXG that do not appear in QQQ (51.1%).
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 IXG | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PYPLPaypay Holdings, Inc. | 0.29% | 0.22% | 0.07% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IXG 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, IXG or QQQ?
IXG 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, IXG or QQQ?
Over the past year IXG returned +17.19% vs +20.44% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IXG annualized +4.52% vs +12.50% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IXG or QQQ?
IXG has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 19.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: IXG -80.0% vs QQQ -53.5%.
Should I hold both IXG and QQQ?
IXG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, IXG or QQQ?
IXG yields 2.11% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IXG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IXG?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. IXG led over 3Y and 5Y, QQQ over 1Y and the full window. IXG is less concentrated, with 30.2% 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.