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ETF Comparison

IVV vs QQQ: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Invesco QQQ Trust covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

  • IVVInvestors who want broader S&P 500 exposure and lower measured market sensitivity.
  • QQQInvestors who want Nasdaq-100 exposure and can accept a more concentrated book.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

IVV has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.07% total return against 26.73%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 20.69% a year, against 15.31% for IVV. IVV has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.0% against 20.4% for QQQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince May 2000Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IVV13.39%21.07%21.29%12.78%15.31%8.63%15.0%0.991.43-18.8%
QQQ17.54%26.73%24.63%14.18%20.69%9.33%20.4%0.861.24-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since May 2000” measures every fund from May 19, 2000 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricIVVQQQ
Full nameiShares Core S&P 500 ETFInvesco QQQ Trust
IssueriSharesInvesco
Underlying indexS&P 500 IndexNasdaq-100 Index
Last Close$773.92 as of September 4, 2026$718.96 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate1.03%0.45%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10097
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.03%0.44%
Expense ratio0.03%0.18%
AUM$871B$484B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large-capitalization U.S. equities, measuring the performance of the large-cap sector of the U.S. equity market as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices.Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date05/15/200003/10/1999
Beta1.01.26
Last dividend$1.9956$0.8135
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/22/2026

Bottom lineChoose IVV if you want broader S&P 500 exposure and lower measured market sensitivity. Choose QQQ if you want Nasdaq-100 exposure and can accept a more concentrated book.

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4668B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IVV.

See all iShares ETFs
Invesco
ETFs246
Total AUM$993B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Invesco is a major ETF provider known for offering a comprehensive lineup spanning multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company specializes in income-focused products including dividend, covered call, and bond strategies, while also maintaining broad exposure across equity, factor-based, thematic, and ESG investing themes. Invesco's portfolio ranges from index-tracking funds to alternatives and specialized offerings like digital assets and BulletShares, making it one of the more expansive ETF families available to investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QQQ.

See all Invesco ETFs

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Quick verdict

IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IVV offers the higher yield at 1.03% vs 0.45% for QQQ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

IVV is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.18%.

They have different reference exposures: IVV is linked to S&P 500 Index while QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IVV is the larger fund by assets ($871B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose IVV

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

  • Want broader S&P 500 exposure — more sectors, less mega-cap concentration, and typically lower beta.
  • Want higher current income — IVV yields 1.03% vs 0.45% for QQQ.
  • Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.18% for QQQ.

Choose QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust

  • Want Nasdaq-100 exposure — fewer names, heavier technology weight, and typically a higher current distribution.
  • Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IVV would generate roughly $8.58/month, while QQQ would produce $3.75/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IVV yield1.03%
QQQ yield0.45%
Monthly diff on $10K$4.83

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IVV would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $180 for QQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $150.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IVV ER0.03%
QQQ ER0.18%

Strategy & risk

IVV tracks S&P 500 Index, while QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.0 for IVV and 1.26 for QQQ, making IVV the less volatile of the two by this measure.

IVV beta1.0
QQQ beta1.26

Fund details

IVV is managed by iShares (launched 05/15/2000) with $871B in assets. QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $484B in assets.

IVV AUM$871B
QQQ AUM$484B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IVV and QQQ?

IVV currently distributes 1.03% and QQQ 0.45%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is IVV or QQQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IVV currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between IVV and QQQ?

IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index, while QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. They are issued by iShares and Invesco respectively.

Can I hold both IVV and QQQ?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is IVV or QQQ safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — IVV scores 100, QQQ scores 97, so IVV's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. IVV has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.00 vs 1.26 for QQQ). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IVV or QQQ?

IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while QQQ charges 0.18%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in IVV vs QQQ generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IVV would generate roughly $8.58 per month ($103.00 annually). The same in QQQ would produce about $3.75 per month ($45.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IVV or QQQ?

IVV has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.07% total return against 26.73%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 20.69% a year, against 15.31% for IVV. IVV has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.0% against 20.4% for QQQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IVV vs QQQ — at a glance

Generated September 5, 2026.

Overview

IVV and QQQ are both large-cap U.S. equity ETFs tracking different benchmarks. IVV follows the S&P 500 Index, capturing the 500 largest U.S. companies across all sectors with market-cap weighting. QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, holding 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq, heavily skewed toward technology and growth stocks. The core distinction is sector composition and volatility: IVV offers broad diversification; QQQ concentrates on technology-driven, faster-growing businesses.

How they differ

IVV and QQQ track fundamentally different universes. The S&P 500 includes financial companies and represents the full economy—energy, healthcare, industrials, consumer staples, and discretionary alongside tech. The Nasdaq-100 excludes all financials and is dominated by technology, communication services, and consumer discretionary names, making it a pure-play growth tilt. This shows up in volatility: QQQ's beta of 1.26 versus IVV's 1.0 reflects its higher sensitivity to market swings.

Income also differs materially. IVV yields 1.03% annually with quarterly distributions, while QQQ yields just 0.45%, reflecting the lower dividend payout culture in technology. IVV's expense ratio of 0.03% is slightly lower than QQQ's 0.18%, though both are among the cheapest in their category. IVV holds $871B in assets versus QQQ's $484B, giving IVV more liquidity depth.

Who each is best for

  • IVV: Fits investors seeking broad U.S. large-cap exposure with minimal sector tilts, steady dividend income, and a single-security substitute for a diversified U.S. equity allocation. Works well for core holdings in a multi-asset portfolio.
  • QQQ: Fits investors comfortable with tech and growth-stock concentration who view higher volatility as acceptable in exchange for exposure to innovation-driven, faster-growing businesses. Suited to investors with a longer time horizon who can tolerate 52-week price swings.

Key risks to know

  • Sector concentration in QQQ: Technology and communication services likely represent over 50% of holdings; a sector downturn or multiple compression in high-growth stocks poses outsized risk that won't affect IVV's more balanced index.
  • Beta amplification: QQQ's 1.26 beta means it will decline roughly 26% faster than the market in a broad correction, while IVV's 1.0 beta moves in line with the S&P 500. Risk tolerance for drawdown magnitude differs sharply.
  • Sector overlap and correlation: While QQQ and IVV own different stocks, the largest companies in both (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, among others) create embedded correlation risk; they won't diversify each other in a tech-driven rally or selloff.
  • Earnings sensitivity: QQQ's growth tilt makes it more sensitive to changes in interest rates and future earnings expectations; when discount rates rise or growth projections fall, QQQ typically underperforms IVV by a wide margin.

Bottom line

If you want broad U.S. equity exposure with lower volatility and regular dividend income, IVV's S&P 500 tracking stands out. If you're targeting growth-driven sectors and can accept higher beta and lower current yield, QQQ tilts toward tech and innovation at the cost of concentration risk. Neither is the universal choice—the decision hinges on whether your portfolio needs stability or growth emphasis, and how much volatility you're willing to absorb. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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