QQQ vs USIG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or USIG?
Large Cap Growth against Long Term Mid Quality.
USIG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | USIG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $17.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 4.84% |
| Holdings | 107 | 11,462 |
| YTD Return | +15.18%Best | -1.37% |
| 1Y Return | +19.65%Best | -1.17% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.60%Best | +5.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.94%Best | -0.22% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6% | 7.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -21.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,204Best | $9,890 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Long Term Mid Quality |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 5, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 1, 2018 to Sep 15, 2026 (8.1 years).
QQQ vs USIG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs USIG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (USIG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while USIG returned -1.17%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a loss of 1.37% for USIG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +5.10% for USIG; over five years the annualized figures are +13.94% and -0.22% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.00% annualized vs +1.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% compared with 7.3% for USIG. 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 -21.6% for USIG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while USIG charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $4 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 4.84% for USIG.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings USIG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for USIG, our book for it covers 17.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and USIG share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,012 in USIG, against full books of 107 and 11,462.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and USIG 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, QQQ or USIG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while USIG charges 0.04%. USIG is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or USIG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs -1.17% for USIG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), QQQ annualized +19.00% vs +1.67% for USIG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or USIG?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 7.3% for USIG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs USIG -21.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and USIG?
QQQ and USIG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 USIG?
At least 2.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings USIG also owns. Our book for USIG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,012 in USIG.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or USIG?
QQQ yields 0.44% while USIG yields 4.84%, so USIG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USIG better than QQQ?
USIG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.