QQQ vs URTH
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares MSCI World ETF
Which is better, QQQ or URTH?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. URTH is less concentrated, with 27.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | QQQ | URTH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.24% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $8.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 1.36% |
| Holdings | 321 | 1,310 |
| YTD Return | +21.44%Best | +11.10% |
| 1Y Return | +23.58%Best | +14.55% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.86%Best | +21.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.25%Best | +11.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -34.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,231Best | $17,334 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 27.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 10, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 12, 2012 to Oct 1, 2026 (14.7 years).
QQQ vs URTH 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 14.7 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs URTH Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +23.58% while URTH returned +14.55%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.44% versus a gain of 11.10% for URTH.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +27.86% per year against +21.41% for URTH; over five years the annualized figures are +16.25% and +11.63% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.12% annualized vs +10.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 13.9% for URTH. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -34.0% for URTH. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while URTH charges 0.24%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $24 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 1.36% for URTH.
Holdings Overlap
97.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings URTH also owns. 39.2% of URTH's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside URTH. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
97 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,222 in URTH, against full books of 321 and 1,310.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 417 positions for URTH that do not appear in our book for QQQ (34.0% of the fund), and 3 for QQQ that do not appear in URTH (1.2%).
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 QQQ | Weight in URTH | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.45% | 5.50% | 2.95% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.80% | 5.34% | 2.46% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.88% | 3.83% | 2.05% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.41% | 2.72% | 1.69% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.85% | 1.20% | 3.65% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.15% | 2.17% | 0.98% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.93% | 1.72% | 1.21% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.71% | 0.92% | 2.79% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.07% | 1.56% | 1.51% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.74% | 1.79% | 0.95% |
97.8% of QQQ is already inside URTH.
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, QQQ or URTH?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while URTH charges 0.24%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or URTH?
Over the past year QQQ returned +23.58% vs +14.55% for URTH, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), QQQ annualized +19.12% vs +10.64% for URTH. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or URTH?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 13.9% for URTH. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs URTH -34.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and URTH?
QQQ and URTH have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 QQQ and URTH?
97.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings URTH also owns. 39.2% of URTH's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 97 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,222 in URTH.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or URTH?
QQQ yields 0.42% while URTH yields 1.36%, so URTH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is URTH better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. URTH is less concentrated, with 27.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.