IYC vs QQQ
iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, IYC 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. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.9%.
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 | IYC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.51% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 162 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -5.89% | +21.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.89% | +25.89%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.94% | +28.80%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.39% | +15.67%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5%Best | 22.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -54.0%Best | -80.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,396 | $20,706Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.9% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 12, 2000 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 28, 2000 to Sep 25, 2026 (26.2 years).
IYC 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 26.2 years both funds cover.
IYC vs QQQ Performance
iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (IYC) 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 IYC returned -6.89% while QQQ returned +25.89%. Year to date, IYC is down 5.89% versus a gain of 21.71% for QQQ.
Over three years, IYC compounded at +13.94% per year against +28.80% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +4.39% and +15.67% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +8.34% annualized vs +7.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.4% compared with 17.5% for IYC. 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 -54.0% for IYC 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYC 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, IYC currently yields 0.51% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
47.4% of IYC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 16.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings IYC also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
14 positions in common, counted across the 157 positions we hold weights for in IYC and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 162 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 82 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for IYC (81.5% of the fund), and 138 for IYC that do not appear in QQQ (51.9%).
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 IYC | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 15.43% | 4.67% | 10.76% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 7.75% | 2.56% | 5.19% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 3.99% | 2.41% | 1.58% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 4.16% | 1.84% | 2.32% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 4.20% | 1.37% | 2.83% |
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 2.57% | 0.70% | 1.87% |
| SBUXStarbucks Corp | 2.02% | 0.53% | 1.49% |
| MARMarriott International, Inc. | 1.25% | 0.42% | 0.83% |
| ORLYO'Eilly Automotive, Inc. | 1.23% | 0.34% | 0.89% |
| ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. | 1.21% | 0.36% | 0.85% |
47.4% of IYC is already inside QQQ.
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, IYC or QQQ?
IYC 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, IYC or QQQ?
Over the past year IYC returned -6.89% vs +25.89% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IYC annualized +7.49% vs +8.34% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYC or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 22.4% annualized versus 17.5% for IYC. Worst drawdown: IYC -54.0% vs QQQ -80.5%.
Should I hold both IYC and QQQ?
IYC and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 IYC and QQQ?
47.4% of IYC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 16.1% of QQQ's is in holdings IYC also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 157 positions we hold weights for in IYC and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYC or QQQ?
IYC yields 0.51% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so IYC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than IYC?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.