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IGV vs. QQQ
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

IGV vs. QQQ

Last updated Jul 7, 2026
See Documentation

IGV (iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IGV is a Technology Equities fund tracking the S&P North American Expanded Technology Software Index, while QQQ is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IGV returned 16.11%/yr vs 21.54%/yr for QQQ. Their correlation of 0.84 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IGV charges 0.39%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for QQQ.

Performance

IGV vs. QQQ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) and Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IGV achieves a -10.30% return, which is significantly lower than QQQ's 17.94% return. Over the past 10 years, IGV has underperformed QQQ with an annualized return of 16.11%, while QQQ has yielded a comparatively higher 21.54% annualized return.

IGV

1D
1.30%
1M
-1.09%
6M
-8.51%
YTD
-10.30%
1Y
-14.80%
3Y*
11.74%
5Y*
3.47%
10Y*
16.11%

QQQ

1D
1.43%
1M
2.63%
6M
17.24%
YTD
17.94%
1Y
30.58%
3Y*
26.16%
5Y*
15.59%
10Y*
21.54%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IGV vs. QQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
IGV
iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF		-10.30%5.56%23.41%58.56%-35.65%12.30%52.86%34.33%12.44%42.16%
QQQ
Invesco QQQ ETF		17.94%20.77%25.58%54.86%-32.58%27.42%48.62%38.96%-0.13%32.66%

Correlation

The correlation between IGV and QQQ is 0.55, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.55

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.73

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.82

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.83

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 13, 2001

0.84

Over the past year, the correlation between IGV and QQQ has dropped to 0.55 - well below their long-term average of 0.84, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

IGV vs. QQQ - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
IGV
QQQ

Technology

89.1%
58.7%

Communication Services

8.6%
14.3%

Financial Services

1.9%
0.2%

Consumer Cyclical

0.3%
11.4%

Industrials

0.1%
2.6%

Basic Materials

-

1.0%

Consumer Defensive

-

6.4%

Energy

-

0.5%

Healthcare

-

3.7%

Real Estate

-

0.1%

Utilities

-

1.2%

Technology

IGV
89.1%
QQQ
58.7%

Communication Services

IGV
8.6%
QQQ
14.3%

Financial Services

IGV
1.9%
QQQ
0.2%

Consumer Cyclical

IGV
0.3%
QQQ
11.4%

Industrials

IGV
0.1%
QQQ
2.6%

Basic Materials

IGV

-

QQQ
1.0%

Consumer Defensive

IGV

-

QQQ
6.4%

Energy

IGV

-

QQQ
0.5%

Healthcare

IGV

-

QQQ
3.7%

Real Estate

IGV

-

QQQ
0.1%

Utilities

IGV

-

QQQ
1.2%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF

Invesco QQQ ETF

Often compared with IGV:
IGV vs. SOXXIGV vs. XSWIGV vs. VGTIGV vs. XLKIGV vs. SMHXIGV vs. VOOIGV vs. SMH
Often compared with QQQ:
QQQ vs. SPYQQQ vs. VOOQQQ vs. VGTQQQ vs. TQQQQQQ vs. SMHQQQ vs. QQQMQQQ vs. SPMO

Return for Risk

IGV vs. QQQ — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
IGV
IGV Risk / Return Rank: 55
Overall Rank
IGV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 55
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IGV Sortino Ratio Rank: 55
Sortino Ratio Rank
IGV Omega Ratio Rank: 55
Omega Ratio Rank
IGV Calmar Ratio Rank: 66
Calmar Ratio Rank
IGV Martin Ratio Rank: 66
Martin Ratio Rank
QQQ
QQQ Risk / Return Rank: 6161
Overall Rank
QQQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6161
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QQQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 5757
Sortino Ratio Rank
QQQ Omega Ratio Rank: 5959
Omega Ratio Rank
QQQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 6363
Calmar Ratio Rank
QQQ Martin Ratio Rank: 6363
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IGV vs. QQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) and Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

IGVQQQDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
-0.52
1.68

-2.19

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
-0.57
2.26

-2.83

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

0.93

1.30

-0.36

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

-0.41

2.57

-2.97

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

-0.80

9.33

-10.14

IGV vs. QQQ - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IGV Sharpe Ratio is -0.52, which is lower than the QQQ Sharpe Ratio of 1.68. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IGV and QQQ, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

IGV vs. QQQ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IGV drawdown since its inception was -63.45%, smaller than the maximum QQQ drawdown of -82.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IGV and QQQ.

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Drawdown Indicators

IGVQQQDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-63.45%

-82.97%

+19.52%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-36.61%

-11.96%

-24.65%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-36.61%

-22.77%

-13.84%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-45.85%

-35.12%

-10.73%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-45.85%

-35.12%

-10.73%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-19.51%

-3.02%

-16.49%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-14.47%

-32.69%

+18.22%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

18.43%

3.29%

+15.14%

Volatility

IGV vs. QQQ - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) is 9.17%, while Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ) has a volatility of 9.93%. This indicates that IGV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than QQQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

IGVQQQDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

9.17%

9.93%

-0.76%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

25.48%

15.11%

+10.37%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

28.71%

18.36%

+10.35%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

28.07%

22.76%

+5.31%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

26.40%

22.43%

+3.97%

IGV vs. QQQ - Expense Ratio Comparison

IGV has a 0.39% expense ratio, which is higher than QQQ's 0.18% expense ratio.

Dividends

IGV vs. QQQ - Dividend Comparison

IGV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.02%, less than QQQ's 0.42% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
IGV
iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF		0.02%0.00%0.00%0.01%0.01%0.00%0.35%0.02%0.16%0.09%0.82%0.22%
QQQ
Invesco QQQ ETF		0.42%0.45%0.56%0.62%0.80%0.43%0.55%0.74%0.91%0.84%1.06%0.99%

Frequently Asked Questions

IGV and QQQ have a correlation of 0.55, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

QQQ has higher volatility (9.93%) compared to IGV (9.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IGV dropped -63.45% vs QQQ's -82.97%.

On 10-year performance, QQQ leads with 21.54% vs 16.11% for IGV. On fees, QQQ is cheaper at 0.18% per year. On volatility, IGV has been the lower-risk option at 9.17%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, QQQ has performed better with a 21.54% return vs 16.11%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

QQQ is cheaper with a 0.18% expense ratio, compared with 0.39% for IGV.

QQQ has the higher dividend yield at 0.42%, compared with 0.02% for IGV.

IGV is categorized as Technology Equities, while QQQ is Nasdaq-100. IGV tracks S&P North American Expanded Technology Software Index, while QQQ tracks NASDAQ-100 Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.39% for IGV and 0.18% for QQQ.

QQQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.68 vs -0.52), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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