IAU vs QQQ
iShares Gold Trust vs Invesco QQQ Trust
Last updated: 2026-04-10
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to gold securities. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.25%. Launched in 2005, the fund has a 21-year track record.
Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Invesco that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. growth stocks with above-average earnings potential. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.18%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.46%. Launched in 1999, the fund has a 27-year track record.
Quick Verdict
QQQ has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.18% vs 0.25%), saving about $137 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, IAU has significantly outperformed with a 50.0% return vs 37.0%.
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
QQQ Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 8.69% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 7.47% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 5.55% |
| Amazon.com, Inc.AMZN | 4.61% |
| Tesla, Inc.TSLA | 3.47% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc.META | 3.41% |
| Alphabet Inc.GOOG | 3.32% |
| Walmart Inc.WMT | 3.32% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 3.18% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose QQQ if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose IAU if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.